The Peru Gazette

Video by Calvin Castine of Hometown Cable 

Legislation S.7230/A.6762 Puts Money Back Into New Yorkers’ Pockets and Protects Consumers From Unfair Business Practices by Energy Services Companies

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to allow energy services company (ESCO) customers to easily claim owed funds and prevent ESCOs from holding onto such money indefinitely. Specifically, this bill prevents any bad actors in the ESCO industry from retaining customer refunds that the Public Service Commission has ordered the ESCO to provide to its customers in situations where the customer is no longer served by the ESCO and the ESCO is unable to contact the customer. This legislation aligns ESCOs with standards already required of utilities.

“I’ll never stop fighting to lower costs for families — that’s why I’m signing legislation to bring down energy bills, protect consumers and hold energy services companies accountable,” Governor Hochul said. “These reforms will end the practice of bad actors retaining refunds owed to customers, ensuring New Yorkers get their money returned.”

New York State Public Service Commission Chair Rory M. Christian said, “This action by Governor Hochul reinforces New York’s history of consumer protection through real, tangible changes that prevent ESCOs from taking advantage of everyday New Yorkers. Before this legislation, there was little incentive for ESCOs that no longer operated in New York to continue reaching out to customers to return unclaimed funds. These changes enhance the ability of the Commission to act on consumers’ behalf.”

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Carlene Allen Wood Photo

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) recognized nine women from across the North Country as Women of Distinction at his annual award ceremony Thursday evening. This year, the event was held at MHAB Life Skills Campus in Plattsburgh.

Each year, Jones invites community members to nominate impactful women from across numerous categories to be recognized for their efforts throughout the district. After carefully reading through the over 200 heartfelt nominations he received, the Assemblyman proudly notified the winners.

“It is my honor to recognize this year’s Women of Distinction awardees,” Jones said. “Between volunteering to help those in need or going above and beyond in their professions to best serve their communities, this year’s honorees are truly making a difference in the North Country. Please join me in congratulating these women for this well-deserved award.”

The recipients of the 2025 Women of Distinction awards are:

• Valerie Abraham-Rogers, Volunteerism Award
• Valerie Ainsworth, Service to our Hometown Heroes Award
• Maria Alexander, North Country Neighbor Award
• Amanda Bulris-Allen, Healthcare Award
• Michele Carpentier, Education Award
• May Chow, Law Enforcement Award
• Geana Dyer, Trailblazer Award
• Helen Nerksa, Community/Civic Affairs Award
• Joy VanLeuvan, Businesswoman Award

Individual biographies of all awardees are available on the Assemblyman’s social media pages.

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Michael E. Snell- devoted father, husband and trooper- passed away May 20

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Tire Round-Up – NO CHARGE 

Clinton County Residents Welcome 

Thursday, May 29, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. 

Maximum of 10 tires per vehicle 

Town of Peru Highway Garage, 9 Cross Street  

TIRES MUST BE Whole tires, No Rims, No Excessive Dirt, Mud or Water. ONLY Passenger Car or Passenger Truck (No semi, heavy truck, tractor, ATV, etc.) Must be less than 19.5 inches 

The Soil and Water District reserves the right to reject non-passenger and non-pickup tires 

Sponsored by the Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District with the assistance of the Town Of Peru. 

For more information Call 518-561-4616 extension/. 3 or email clintoncountyswcd@ccsoil-water.com

David Babbie

By John T Ryan

May 22, 2025 – Peru, NY  Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum opened for its 2025 season last weekend. Saturday’s first highlight was the unveiling of a new roadside museum sign. After fifteen years in the elements, it was time!

The museum’s new sign is special because Peru art teacher and Peru Middle School students created it. Art teacher Greg Badger is the primary artist. His students Leah Akey, Sawyer DeZalia, Lenayah Senyah, Hudson Spiegel, Aiden Facteau, Hannah Charles, and Fern Battin helped with the lettering.  

Babbie Museum’s focus on local farm history attracted Greg Badger, best known for his paintings at Heyworth Mason Park. He explained, “All of my murals focus on sharing history. I feel that my public art should function not only as a work of art but also as an educational tool. Each building and person on the Babbie Museum’s sign has a story. I want my painting to spur the viewer to question those elements. “Who is the blacksmith in the picture?” or “Where did that stagecoach come from?” In that way, my mural work pairs perfectly with the mission of the Babbie Museum. It was especially important that I include the museum founder, Leeward Babbie, in the sign. Last year, I walked the museum grounds with him, taking pictures. I settled on depicting him in front of the Goshen Store, a building that the museum relocated from its original site down River Road and restored here at the museum.”  In addition to the Goshen Store, the sign depicts the museum’s blacksmith shop, granary, carriage house, and a one-room school.  

Leeward Babbie, who resides at Meadowbrook Healthcare in Plattsburgh, couldn’t attend Saturday’s unveiling; however, many family members were present. They were “all smiles” when Todd Babbie unveiled the sign. Greg Badger, accompanied by his family, looked on with pride.

Babbie Museum’s next event is Saturday, June 7. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Treats and take-home crafts for children will be included in the small admission charge.

To see more of Greg

Badger’s work, go to  https://www.gregbadgerart.com to view his original artwork, cards, and prints on Etsy.

5/23/25 7:05 PM Correction of the link to Greg Badger’s website. 

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NY Focus Reports 

By John T Ryan

Summary of Peru Town Board’s May 12, 2025 Meeting 

Paving Bruce Drive was scheduled for Wednesday, May 14.  Once that’s complete the highway department plans to pave Telegraph Rood from the road closure point north to the Bear Swamp Road. The board approved financing for a Highway Department 2025 Western Star plow truck for $352,946 utilizing $152,946 in available funds and issuing a bond not exceeding $200,000. Highway Department Superintendent Michael Farrell says plow truck replacement costs doubled over the last past few years with a three to four year waiting period. 

Courtney Tetreault reported that on or about Saturday, May 3, vandals defaced the Sullivan Park entrance sign, damaged a Sullivan Park picnic table and bench, and severely damaged metal signs at Little Ausable River Park. Town Supervisor Craig Randall said the repair cost to the Sullivan Park sign is 3,000.  A Peru-based company, Artisan Sign and Design, donated the sign to the town in June 2021. Randall said the town will press charges when one or more persons are apprehended.

NYS Police have scheduled a ceremony to rename the Carpenter’s Flat Bridge for the late NYS Trooper Christopher Garrow for Heyworth Mason Park on May 30 at 11 a.m. 

Town Historian Helen Nerska will conduct a Peru History Tour on Saturday, May 31. It will leave the town hall at 10 a.m. The board verbally agreed to Nerska’s request to donate 1st Baptist Church congregation documents to the Town of Ausable. The church began on Fuller Road in Peru, but moved to Ausable.  Peru collected many records over the years.

Recreation Director Kristen Marino reported many participating teams in summer programs, including three peewee baseball teams, three grasshopper baseball teams, two grasshopper softball teams, two peewee softball teams, plus T-Ball. 

Mrs. Marino still needs a pickleball instructor, a tennis instructor, and an assistant recreation director. Opening days are May 23 -24. The Clinton County Youth Bureau will conduct an umpire clinic at Lapham Mills Park on May 23. 

The board also: 

Approved signing a customer agreement with Hamilsun Solar with an anticipated saving of 7% of the town’s total electricity charges. Savings are estimated at $7,000 annually. 

Tabled a six-month contract with White Knight Kennels as the town’s dangerous dog facility.  The exact cost could not be determined because there appeared to be a wording error in the proposed contract.

Approved purchase of mechanical parts for closing the former wastewater lagoon adjacent to the Brand Hollow Road.

Approved using some or all of the town’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies of $138,041 to repair or replace manhole repairs and/or replacement. 

Approved purchase of playground mulch for $4,764. 

Approved purchase of a 40 ft. Commex metal storage box for $4,240 to store items displaced during the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project. 

Joseph Stemper is a member of VFW Post 125 in Plattsburgh.

Joseph Stemper is a member of VFW Post 125 in Plattsburgh.

Judy LeFevre, President of Peru VFW Post 309 Auxillary

Bill LeFevre, Past Commanter of Peru VFW Post 309

Lee Clemons, a member of Peru VFW Post 309

Peru, NY, Wednesday, May 21, 2025 – On Monday, May 26, 2025, many people will gather to participate in ceremonies and parades in observance of Memorial Day. Some will visit cemeteries to pay their respects at the graves of loved ones, and they will likely be struck by the sight of hundreds of American flags throughout the cemetery, including one placed at the graves of their loved ones. These flags do not just appear by chance. Members of veterans organizations and dedicated volunteers walk through nearly every local cemetery, ensuring that no veteran’s final resting place is overlooked. This morning, several VFW and VFW Auxiliary members, and other volunteers placed flags at St. Augustine’s Cemetery, while other VFW members provided similar support at cemeteries in surrounding areas.

The primary concern centers around a shift in nurse-to-patient ratios within four medical-surgical units

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