The Peru Gazette

Community invited to celebrate long-awaited new station

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

By John T Ryan

Meeting fascinating, very nice people is one of the best parts of publishing the Peru Gazette. This morning at Ausable Point, I encountered Cathy Webster, a resident of South Hero, VT. as she departed on the second leg of a 110-mile kayak journey the length of Lake Champlain from Benson, VT. to the Canadian border at Mississquoi Bay. Why? Webster manages the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association (NDAA). Its motto is “Breaking Down Barriers One Paddle at a Time…leave your chairs and canes on the shore, and explore the beautiful Vermont shorelines.”

NDAA is open to all individuals with mobility impairments. Volunteers supervise and assist each participant. Kayaks have seats, pontoons for added stability, and specialty paddles. NDAA goes hand in hand with Cathy’s professional life as a physical therapist. She said, “This journey is a celebration of the program’s 10th year; it memorizes the people who have participated.”  Webster said many suffered strokes, experienced head or spinal injuries, or experienced all kinds of disabilities.”

Cathy departed Ausable Point saying, “If anyone would like to help the program, they can go to kayak@disabledathletes.org or FB NDAA Kayaking.” 

The NDAA phone number is 802-862-6322. Click here for an MYNBC5 story on Cathy’s journey. 

I suspect the golfers arrived very soon after 6:30.

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BBQ Chicken 

Vegetables 

Bread 

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!

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.”

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

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.

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Click here for teh Adirondack Almanac Story 

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

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

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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