The St. Lawrence County Democratic Party chairperson has co-signed a letter to Republican state Senate candidate Patricia Ritchie urging her to separate herself politically from Carl Paladino, who won the Republican gubernatorial nomination in this week’s primary.

“We are writing to ask you to immediately disavow and disassociate your campaign from Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino,” says the letter, signed by county Democratic Chair Mark Bellardini, and also signed by the Democratic Party chairs for Oswego and Jefferson counties.

POTSDAM – The drama, the pomp and plenty of high Cs promise to thrill lovers of arias and larger-than-life story lines when the Orchestra of Northern New York celebrates the premier of its 23rd concert season with “A Night at the Opera” on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam.

POTSDAM – Cinema 10 continues its fall 2010 season on Monday, Sept. 20 with a showing of “GasLand,” a 2010 U.S. documentary about big business and the environment.

In 2008, Josh Fox was approached by a gas company that wanted to drill for natural gas on his Pennsylvania land. When he began to research communities in which natural gas drilling was occurring, he uncovered an untold number of horrors, including one family who could light their tap water on fire.

Films are shown on Mondays at 7:15 p.m. in the Roxy Theater in Potsdam.

HEUVELTON – The Heuvelton Lion’s Club is sponsoring a bus trip to Turning Stone Casino on Oct. 10.

The cost is $35 per person prior to Sept. 19, and $40 thereafter. This includes transportation, a $25 free play for slots and tables or $20 bingo bucks, and a $5 meal credit.

For more information, and to reserve a seat, contact 344-7591.

Senate candidate Patty Ritchie's campaign manager reports that the bipartisan state Board of Elections voted unanimously to reject Senator Darrel Aubertine’s effort to invalidate Ritchie’s petitions to appear on the Taxpayer Party line in November.

Ritchie campaign manager Lisa Smithers says the board staff reviewed Republican Patty Ritchie’s petition and found they contained more than the required number of valid signatures, "as we had always expected."

OGDENSBURG – Bulldog Paintball Park will hold a Bulldog Fall three-man throw-down tournament Saturday, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. at the field, 220 Bloodough Rd.

People with two years or more of tourney experience are invited to participate.

The cost is $100 per team.

Cash prizes will be given.

To reserve a team, contact [email protected] or 528-4991.

LISBON – The fellowship of the Congregational UCC Church will hold a large auction on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Lisbon Tire Mart, Cty. Rt. 28 from 9 a.m. until all items are sold.

Auctioneers are Bob and Nancy Kosman.

Food, including lots of baked goods, and beverages will be sold all day.

Spectators are asked to bring lawn chairs.

Donations of all kinds are requested, with the exception of clothes and junk. Items can be dropped off at the Lisbon Tire Mart every Monday and Wednesday, 6-7 p.m.

Pick-up can be arranged by calling Karen Bush at 394-8591.

NORWOOD – Norwood United Methodist Church, 8 Prospect St., will be hosting their monthly luncheon on Sunday, Sept. 19, starting at 11:15 a.m.

The menu will be homemade lasagna, homemade desserts and more.

This is also a chance to meet their new pastor, Rev. David Pritchard.

For any questions, call Linda or Chet Cota at 353-2872 or Pastor Dave at 353-8893.