POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce has chosen the recipients for its 2016 Pride in Potsdam Community Award and its Citizen Honors.

The Clarkson Inn will receive the Pride in Potsdam award. Their nominations highlighted the hotel’s ongoing commitment to enhancing Potsdam in visual and unseen ways.

The chamber will also be recognizing two individuals for the Citizen Honors, Karen Sidletsky, owner of Misty Hollow, and her long-time employee Bob Porter.

The Clarkson Inn is maintained to a high standard inside and out including the landscaping. The inn has received special recognitions that have brought positive acclaim not only to them but to Potsdam as a whole, the chamber said in its announcement.

The inn received the St. Lawrence County Chamber’s “Best to the Guest” Tourism Excellence Award this spring.

In addition, they have been honored with the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for four years in a row. These awards recognize their superior customer service. The Trip Advisor honor is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor worldwide receive this prestigious award.

Probably unknown to many are the numerous ways the inn has supported local community organizations.

Among those is their donations of furnishings and linens to Helping Hands of Potsdam when the hotel was making renovations and improvements. They donate to Canton-Potsdam Hospital Guild, Community Performance Series, and offer its lobby to the annual Hospice Tree lighting event every December.

The Potsdam Chamber will also be recognizing two individuals for the Citizen Honors. Karen Sidletsky, owner of Misty Hollow and her long time employee Bob Porter

Sidletsky and Porter will be honored “for the tireless dedication they have for Potsdam community members of all ages, its businesses, and charities,” the chamber anouncement said.

Porter has run a holiday gently-used toy and stuffed animal drive for many years. He has donated thousands of items to local neighborhood centers, day cares, Renewal House, and police and emergency personnel.

Sidletsky and Porter both promote their continous mittens, hats, and gloves collection throughout the winter. One nomination said, “Karen and Bob really care about all people and go out of their way to be friendly and helpful despite their own personal challenges.”

The awards will be presented at the Potsdam Chamber’s Annual Dinner Wednesday, Nov. 16 at the Barben Rooms in Clarkson University’s Cheel Center.

Contact the chamber at 315 274-9000 or potsdam@slic.com for information about attending the dinner.