Click here for the NCPR story 

Proposition allows the Olympic Regional Development Authority, or ORDA, to continue using protected land at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex.

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

Peru Gazette Photo

Cherry Hill Farm Photo

By John T Ryan

Peru Gazette Photo

November 5, 2025 , Peru, NY –  By now, many area residents are familiar with the Hamilton family solar farm (Hamilsun Solar) adjacent to Mannix Road. If they have keen eyesight, they probably have observed sheep roaming between the farm’s solar panels. Kristen Carpenter and Keagan Wood, who operate Cherry Hill Farm on Standish Road in Saranac, own the grazing sheep.

Caring for animals comes naturally to Kristen and Keagan, who met while showing animals at the Clinton County Fair. Keegan is a Saranac Central graduate who has always been interested in animals, but cows, not sheep. During high school, he was a member of the Whispering Pines 4-H Club in Peru. Kristen graduated from Northern Adirondack Central School, where she was an active member of the Future Farmers of America. In 2020, she earned a degree in animal science at Cornell University. Part of her studies included assisting in solar grazing research. She commented, “The research pointed to the many positive outcomes of solar grazing. Today, it’s happening all over the U.S.”

Solar grazing is recognized as a source of income for sheep farmers and as a benefit to solar farm operators, as it helps control vegetation that shades the solar panels. Mower and pesticide usage is reduced or eliminated. In addition, sheep dung often contains undigested plant seeds, which can yield a diverse flora that provides a rich habitat for various insects, birds, and small mammals, benefitting both the environment and local wildlife.  Kristen explained. “We’ve had up to 39 sheep grazing here. Right now there are 29. We rotate the sheep among seven paddocks and move the paddocks once a week. We don’t want the sheep to eat too low, damaging the soil and the plants. By next year, we hope to find a beekeeper who would locate hives near the panels.”

Kristen and Keagan also hope to grow their business. They started with only five sheep. Today they have 39.  Eventually, they hope to have many more sheep enjoying life at our region’s solar farms. One of the most satisfying aspects of solar grazing for Kristen and Keagan is the positive experience their son Easton is enjoying. During our interview last Sunday, Easton had an ear-to-ear smile as he encouraged the sheep to run in the solar farm paddock.

Mark Hamilton coordinates the Hamilsun Solar project for his family. Today, Mark commented, “We love the sheep! It’s another way for us to maintain the property in an environmentally friendly manner, and it provides a really healthy experience for the sheep. It’s also been something the community has found interesting and positive, which we appreciate. We are excited to have them back next year!”

View Map of New York State Drought Conditions

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that 21 counties moved from Drought Warning to Drought Watch due to several weeks of consistent rainfall and improving levels of streamflow and ground water. Counties moved to drought watch are Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Clinton, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, northern Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Warren, and Wayne. There are now 56 counties in drought watch across New York State.

Peru Gazette File Photo

Grand Isle, VT – The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), in partnership with NEIWPCC, seeks to fund projects that improve public understanding of and engagement with watershed issues in the Lake Champlain Basin.

This opportunity is intended to support efforts that increase awareness of challenges facing the Basin’s water quality and ecosystems, and that foster informed decision-making and stewardship.

Grants are available in two categories:

• Small Education and Outreach Projects: Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded, with a total of approximately $180,000 in available funding. One proposal may be submitted per eligible organization.
• Large Education and Outreach Projects: Grants between $15,000 – $50,000 will be awarded, with a total of approximately $400,000 in available funding. Up to two proposals may be submitted per eligible organization.

“Public understanding and engagement are critical to the work of managing and restoring our watershed” said Dr. Eric Howe, NEIWPCC Program Director of the Lake Champlain Basin Program. “Awarded projects will build on past and current projects and programs that collectively help to build an informed and involved public.”

The awarded projects will advance the goals of the long-term Lake Champlain management plan Opportunities for Action (plan.lcbp.org). This grant opportunity is supported by funds awarded to Lake Champlain by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and in partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

Proposals for small projects are due at 5:00 PM EST on December 15, 2025, and projects are targeted to begin work in June 2026. Proposals for large projects are due at 5:00 PM EST on January 5, 2026 and are targeted to begin work in January 2027. An informational webinar will be offered on November 19, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. (register for the Zoom meeting here).

For further information, contact the Lake Champlain Basin Program, 54 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, VT at (802) 372-3213 / (800) 468-5227 or visitwww.lcbp.org.

Governor Kathy Hochul today directed that flags on all state government buildings be flown at half-staff in honor of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney who passed away on November 3, 2025. Flags will be flown at half-staff immediately through interment.

“I am directing flags across New York State to be lowered in honor of Dick Cheney, our former Vice President and lifelong public servant,” Governor Hochul said. “I extend my deepest sympathies to the Cheney family as we remember his life, leadership, and patriotism.”

Readers often ask questions about Absentee Ballot Procedures. Ballots must be postmarked no later than November 4, 2025 and received by the Board of Elections no later than November 12, 2025.

700 Clinton County residents requested absentee ballots. The Board of Elections has no idea how many will be returned.

The NYS Board of Elections website states the following.

How to Cast an Absentee Ballot

Once your receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot
Once you have completed marking your ballot fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope. (This envelope will have a place for your signature.) Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope. Seal the Security Envelope.
All absentee ballots include a pre-paid Return Envelope. Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of your county Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, “Official Election Mail”.)The Return Envelope does not require any additional postage. Seal the Return Envelope.

Absentee Ballot Tracking

Voters can track their absentee ballot via the Board of Elections’ Poll Site Search, Voter Registration, and Mail Ballot Tracker available at https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/

You may return the ballot in any of the following ways:

For the November 4, 2025 General Election:

Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 4th. Must be received by the County Board of Elections no later than November 12th.
Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than November 4th by 9pm.
Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between October 25th and November 2nd.
Bringing it to a poll site in your county on November 4th by 9pm.
Mail-time Considerations
When mailing your completed ballot, the USPS recommends that voters allow enough time for ballots to be returned to the Board, which is generally seven days ahead of the general election.

Voters who mail in their ballots on Election Day must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service’s retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time will not be postmarked until the following business day.

Click here for the WCAX News story 

Click here for the News Channel 13 story 

Town of Martinsburg
Lewis County
Wilderness Search: On Oct. 29 at 8:32 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a lost hunter near Graves Road on Lesser Wilderness State Forest. The 67-year-old from Ancram became lost in the darkness while tracking a deer they shot. Forest Ranger Maxwell worked with New York State Police and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department on the search. Using cell phone coordinates, rescuers located the hunter at 9:30 p.m. in good health. The hunter had a flashlight that died and a cell phone that was nearly out of charge.

Rangers suggest hikers and hunters bring light sources such as headlamps with extra batteries and not rely on phones for navigation and light. In the wilderness, cell phone batteries lose charge more quickly.

Town of Ticonderoga
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Nov. 1 at 12:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the family of a hunter missing since the previous day. The 34-year-old from Ticonderoga spoke with a hunting partner through the night but failed to make it out of the woods. Forest Rangers Kabrehl and Quinn searched the area and found items belonging to the hunter. At 4 p.m., the hunter made it to a home on Canfield Road. The hunter refused medical attention from Rangers but accepted a ride from a friend to the hospital due to cramping from dehydration and exhaustion. Resources were clear at 5 p.m.

Town of Brownville
Jefferson County
Rescue: On Nov. 1 at 9:50 p.m., Forest Ranger Cooley assisted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Chaumont Fire Department, and Watertown Fire Department with the rescue of two anglers on their boat stuck approximately 100 yards from shore in Black River Bay. The pair accidentally operated their boat in shallow waters, causing it to run aground. Rescuers used an inflatable raft to safely retrieve the two fishermen.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for more information.

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

Vote adds to local pushback against Adirondack Land Trust’s effort to change the name of Westport landmark

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

November 4, 2025 – These totals are unofficial and DO NOT include 270 Early Voting Ballots, Affidavit Ballots, and Absentee Ballots.  

Peru voters cast 1,704 in-person ballots today.

Town Supervisor 

Republican Craig Randall – 752

Write ins – 2

Superintendent of Highways

Democrat Chip Blair – 482

Republican Michael Farrell – 562

Write ins – 2 

Town Board

Democrat Nick Weaver – 506

Republican Melvin Irwin – 661

Republican Dwane Bast – 500 

Town Clerk/Tax Collector 

Democrat Dianne Miller – 503

Republican Christine Crawford – 553

Write-ins – 1

Town Justice 

Democrat Sarah Mitchell – 725 

Write-ins – to be clarified. Initially reported at 63.

Click here for the NCPR story 

Peru, NY, November 4, 2025 – As of 12:11 p.m. voters had cast 711 ballots at St. Augustine’s Parish Center. The Clinton County Board of Elections reports that 270 Peru voters participated in Early Voting.

The Peru Gazette plans to post in-person voting results as soon as possible after the polls close at 9 p.m.  The Clinton County Board of Elections usually posts its results on its website by 10:30 p.m.

Peru’s in-person voting takes place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972. 
Voters cast ballots for several NYS Supreme Count, NYS Assembly. Clinton County, Town of Peru Elective Offices and for a NYS Constitutional Amendment on the reverse side of the ballot. 

Here are Peru’s sample ballots posted by the Clinton County Board of Elections. 

Screenshot

Screenshot

Cyclists on the newly completed section find serene scenery with wetlands teeming with bog-loving plants

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Drive, Monday, November 17, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru.

CVPH uses all blood collected in our local trl-county region.  Your neighbors appreciate and need your support.

St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 coordinates the blood drive.  

Chicken’n Biscuits 

Salad 

Fruit 

Dessert 

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., take-out only, at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972. 

All are invited and welcome!