To the Editor:

I want to thank all that helped make Homecoming 2021 possible. It takes a lot of people to make this weekend happen.

I want to thank my Homecoming Committee: Sue Caswell, Lorry Bass, Patty VanPatten, Bonnie Taylor, Julie McBath, John Mikolay, Chris Reagan, Don Lutke, Katelyn Osoway, Malorie Farrell and Ashley Dumas. Without the help of all of you, this would not have been possible.

Thank you, Amber Sullivan, for bringing back, organizing, and planning the Teen Dance…Cathy and Scott Shoen for organizing and donating for the Ice Cream social…Bonnie Taylor, for all your work on the Diaper Derby and Pet show and The Seaway Diner and Smokehouse for donating the food and planning our Sunday, Town Picnic. Thank you, Pete Backus for organizing and planning the No Octane Go-cart race and Patty VanPatten for planning and organizing Chalk it up. Also, Katelyn, Ashley and Patty, thank you for all our decorations including the design of our infamous “Homecoming Button”. Finally, thank you to our Local Rescue Squad, Fire Department who provide Traffic Control and Safety and to our Town Supervisor, Alex Hammond and our Mayor, Mike Zagrobelny who provide other available resources needed for the weekend events.

The Fireworks were beautiful this year and we had some major obstacles to get through. Not only did we have to reschedule the event because of the storm we had on Saturday, but we were not able to launch them from Ogden Island. If you have ideas or would be able to assist us in getting them back to Ogden Island, please let me know and/or join us at our next meeting.

The fireworks show is very expensive, and we fundraise extensively, every year for this. We want to thank all our local businesses that donated a prize(s) for our fundraising raffle. Donations came from MX Fuel, Waddington True Value, Border Life Wine and Spirits, Waddington Blooms, Sharlow’s Deli, Tony Bogart, Texas Roadhouse, Waddington IGA, Main Street Perc, Art’s Used Cars, R & Bait, JC’s River Run. St. Lawrence Recreation and Susan Prentice. We had some fabulous prizes this year and our raffle was a huge success.

As well as this major fundraiser, we want to thank the families who donate a cash value towards our fireworks show. Larry and Carol Burns, Al and Tenley Amo, Susan and Shawn Prentice and the American Legion.

We want to thank everyone who came and supported our events. We hope you had a good time at the festivities, and we hope to see you next year!

Colleen Kentner
Waddington Homecoming Chair