SARANAC LAKE — In planning for its annual dinner, the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is requesting nominations from its members and the community for the 2023 Don Duso Citizen of the Year award.

The award, which will be presented at the 2023 Annual Dinner on June 8 at the Hotel Saranac, will go to a community member who has shown significant contribution to the community of Saranac Lake and its surrounding areas. The chamber will accept nominations for the award until Friday, May 5.

Nominations must identify how the citizen meets the following criteria:

¯ Outstanding service to the community

¯ Significant and sustained contribution to the quality of life in the area

¯ An individual who exemplifies Saranac Lake’s community spirit.

The public may submit nominations via mail to 39 Main St., Suite 2, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 or by emailing director@slareachamber.org. Nominations should include a description of why the individual is being nominated for the award.

A committee of past Citizen of the Year recipients will review the nominations and announce the winner at this year’s annual dinner on June 8.

The award is named after Don Duso, who died in 2010 and received the award in 1984. He was a lifelong resident of the area, owned and operated Crescent Bay, Inc., and was very active in the community. Duso served as chairman of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee for 23 years and a member of the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department for 53 years.

To learn more and purchase tickets for the annual dinner, visit www.slareachamber.org/events.