To the Editor:

The Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate our recipients Thomas E. Hannan, Sr. for the Citizen of the Year Award; the St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union for the Community Service Award and John Wade and Carlos Lopez from the Sherman Inn for Most Improved Business Award.

We would also like to thank all the businesses who supported our event with a monetary donation or an auction item donation or both. Our annual dinner was attended by over (180) community members! We were very pleased with the turn-out and very happy to see so many familiar faces coming to honor our recipients.

A special thank you to Lou Williams and the Gran-View Restaurant staff who served us an excellent meal!

This successful event was made possible by the dedicated chamber of commerce board members led by our board president, Michael Brashaw. Our annual dinner committee – co-chaired by Michele Catlin and Steve Hawes; Melissa Lalonde; John Wade; Kim Demers; Julia Stevenson; Dawn Merz; Sean McNamara; Lee Jones; Betsy Porter and Judy Ryan did an outstanding job of coordinating and putting the details all together. A big round of applause and a warm thank you for our master of ceremonies – Dawn Merz – she is a talented hostess who can keep the program moving and have fun doing it!

Thank you to Wayne Izzo and Joe Tracy who sold 50/50 tickets and Alex Augsbury and Lee Jones who sold lottery board tickets. A special thank you to Reverend Joseph Morgan and Reverend James Shurtleff who provided the Benediction and Invocation.

Jim Reagen, public relations coordinator from Senator Patty Ritchie’s office, presented a proclamation to each of our honorees. This wonderful event was made possible through generous support and dedication from the Greater Ogdensburg community – thank you for all you do for Ogdensburg.

Laura Pearson

Executive Director of the Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce