Family was at the top of Colin Farrington’s list.

“My wife, my two sons and we have a daughter coming next year,” he said.

Farrington grew up in Saranac Lake, spent time in other states and now lives in Tupper Lake. He said that while it’s commonplace for people to be kind and outgoing around the holidays, that spirit is embodied by Tri-Lakers all throughout the year, during both the good times and bad.

“It’s nice just how personable everyone is, regardless of the season,” he said. “Normally you just find that around Christmas time, but up here, it’s really year-round, regardless of what’s happening.”

Nkechinyere Sloan, of Saranac Lake, and Windsor enjoy a walk through the village on Tuesday. Sloan was thankful for family, friends and a sense of balance that she feels living there. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Nkechinyere Sloan, who previously lived in Tupper Lake and moved back to Saranac Lake recently, said she doesn’t take days for granted.

“I am thankful for waking up this morning,” she said.

Sloan was thankful for her children, family, friends and Saranac Lake, which she is grateful to call home.

“I’m thankful for home,” she said. “For me, it’s home because it’s where my balance is. I come back here and I feel balanced again.”

Sloan was walking with her 11-year-old dog, Windsor, a Havanese. She’s been his owner for his whole life. Sloan said Windsor had his own open yard for most of his life, but was now getting acclimated to living in the “big city” — from his four-legged perspective — of Saranac Lake.

Jacinda Riggs, who grew up in Saranac Lake and now lives in Buffalo, and Judy Doebler, right, of Saranac Lake smile as the shop along Broadway in Saranac Lake on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“I call it his city dog time,” she said smiling.

Mother-daughter duo Judy Doebler and Jacinda Riggs were between shopping several small businesses along Broadway. Riggs, who now lives in western New York, was thankful to have grown up in Saranac Lake and to be able to come back to the village for the holidays. She said Saranac Lakers look out for each other.

“Just knowing everybody, and having each other’s backs,” she said. “You don’t get as much of that in larger communities.”

Doebler added that she was grateful to see Saranac Lake’s continued revitalization.

“Saranac Lake is coming back,” she said, gesturing toward the various shops open along Broadway. “I’ve been here for 20-something years, and this is the best it seems to be as a community.”

Colin Farrington, of Tupper Lake, smiles at the Stewart’s Shops in Saranac Lake on Tuesday. He said he was thankful for his family. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Around the corner, people made their way in and out of the Saranac Lake Free Library, a welcome retreat from the elements. Jake Widrick, who has served as the library’s director since 2022, said he was thankful for Saranac Lakers’ strong connection to their local library.

“It’s that time of year when we’re in the middle of our annual appeal, and I am very happy to be part of a community that supports and appreciates its public library,” he said.

Between the sense of community and those who make it possible, people throughout the Tri-Lakes are full of reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving.