The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Usually a Peru Gazette story includes a picture of the person or persons featured in our story. This story is a little different because by the time this reporter arrived on the scene the task at hand was complete. Instead, several bags of trash and a long metal object were neatly placed adjacent to the entrance gate of the New York State D.O.T. storage area on  the Bear Swamp Road. While most Peru residents were still sound asleep last Saturday morning members of the Peru Lions Club were picking up roadside trash for 4.5 miles along the Bear Swamp Road between Route 22 and Route 9 including the entrance and exit ramps of the Adirondack Northway. Some Lions arrived at about 6:30 a.m., others at 7 a.m. The job was finished about 8 a.m.

Larry Ewald Sr. has led this Peru Lions Club activity since the beginning. Ewald commented, “Duane Waterman, one of our members, brought the idea back from Texas. I know we were one of the first groups in this area to take part in the Adopt a Highway Program. It’s been at least twenty-five years.”   Ewald said about ten to twelve members usually participate each month from April or May through November.  Each person is assigned about one-half mile segment of highway. Ewald said, “We can usually complete the job in about an hour, except when we do our first pick-up in the springtime. That usually takes at least two hours.”  Very few Lions Club activities are all work and no play. The Lions usually meet at McDonald’s for coffee when their work is complete.

Ewald says they pick up all manner of trash. Some items you’d expect such as cigarette packages, paper cups and bags, cans and bottles.  Used baby diapers aren’t unusual. Sometimes it’s bigger items such as car and truck tires.  Occasionally, money is found. This past weekend five one-dollar bills were blowing in the breeze. Another time it was tens and twenties totaling $100.  Ewald said, “We donated that money to a good cause in Peru.” Let’s hope the $5 they found Saturday went to pay for the coffee at McDonald’s!