Richard George Ralph
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Photo by Patrick Grego / The New Pine Plains Herald
This article was originally published in The New Pine Plains Herald and is reprinted here with permission.
PINE PLAINS — The shelves at Peck’s Market, Pine Plains’ only grocery store, appeared thinly stocked last week as the century-old family business confronts mounting financial and legal pressure. After failing to respond to a federal lawsuit seeking more than $77,000 for unpaid food deliveries, the store now risks a default judgment that could leave its owners liable.
The suit, filed in April by Connecticut distributor Bozzuto’s Inc., alleges Peck’s Market owes $77,959.49 for deliveries made between February 2024 and April 2025, plus $3,650 in legal fees. On Aug. 8, United States District Court Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke ordered owners Donald and Charlene Peck to show cause why a default judgment should not be entered. Court records show no response was submitted by the Aug. 18 deadline.
It is unclear when Clarke is expected to rule. A default judgment would mean the Pecks lose the case without a trial and could be ordered to pay the full amount. The attorney for Bozzuto’s declined to comment.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Aug. 20, Don Peck said the family is considering options, including raising money by selling or borrowing against property. “We’re very optimistic about the lawsuit,” he said. “We’ll take care of that. As far as the store itself, we’re trying to keep optimistic about it. We’re working at it.”
Still, Peck acknowledged the store’s shrinking inventory and the difficulties facing small, independent grocers. He said he loves the business but raised the possibility of closing or selling the store, noting that several potential buyers have expressed interest.
“We have a lot of options, just closing and selling, of course, is one,” he said.
”Hopefully if we did do that, people would come up with an idea that would work for a small town.”
For Pine Plains, the stakes are considerable. The nearest full-service supermarkets are more than 15 miles away — Hannaford in Red Hook, Tops in Rhinebeck, Freshtown in Amenia, or LaBonne’s in Salisbury, Conn. That distance poses a hardship for older residents and those without reliable transportation.
Peck said members of the community have offered support, but no clear path forward has emerged. “There’s no definite thing right now,” he said. “People are interested in supporting us in different ways. So I’m not sure which direction we’re going to go in.”
Peck also pointed to broader changes in the grocery industry that have left independent stores vulnerable. “A lot of our suppliers today are different than they were 40 years ago. They demand a certain amount of volume, because they’re taking care of bigger stores, so the volume that we have to get from them to get so many cases of grocery or dairy, or meat or frozen, has all gone up…. All these things have changed so much. It’s just unbelievable.”
Laura Strange, chief communications and engagement officer for the National Grocers Association, said many independents face similar pressures. “Independent grocers continue to navigate significant challenges in today’s marketplace,” she said. “Costs for goods, utilities, rent, and labor have all increased, yet independents have worked to compress margins to help consumers absorb rising prices and remain competitive. Even in this environment, their resilience, innovation, and commitment to their communities remain unmatched.”
Food sourcing has also dwindled, Peck said. “We used to have 57 suppliers of product coming here. You know, now we have 17. A lot of them are out of business … and a lot of them have been sucked up by other distributors.”
Brothers William and Robert Peck founded Peck’s Food Market in 1922, and Don represents the third generation of family ownership. Despite the uncertainty, he expressed hope the business will survive. “We’re working at it,” he said. “Thank God, we believe in God and Jesus. He’s with us, trying to figure out how to do this. So we’ll see what happens.”
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Clyde Perham Weed
Aug 21, 2025
CORNWALL — Clyde Perham Weed, 74, passed away peacefully at his home in West Cornwall, Connecticut on Sunday, August 17.
Clyde was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to Jeanne and Herbert Weed. He was the grandson and namesake of Clyde E. Weed, Chairman of the board of Anaconda Copper.
Clyde was a gifted scholar. He did his undergraduate work at Vassar College, his Master’s and PhD at Columbia University. He was a wonderful Professor of Political Science and taught at Colgate University, Baruch College and spent the last 20 years of his career as a tenured Professor of Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University.
Clyde had remarkable energy and a vivacity that is hard to explain! Through his teaching, kindness and mentorship he touched so many lives.
He also wrote two important works on political realignment theory, “The Nemesis of Reform: The Republican Party during the New Deal,” published by Columbia University Press; and “The Transformation of the Republican Party 1912-1936 from Reform to Resistance”. At the time of his death, he was completing a manuscript on the political thought of Walter Lippmann during the New Deal.
Clyde loved nature and all animals. He spent many happy years walking and loving the natural beauty in West Cornwall.
Clyde leaves behind his wife of 24 years, Amy Weed, and brother Michael Weed of Los Altos, California, sister- in-law, Patricia Hurley, nieces, Emily and Maggie Weed, Brielle Cleary and nephews Jesse Weed, Daniel and Teagen Cleary. He also leaves behind his beloved Scottish Terrier “Hoover.”
Calling hours will be at The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT 06069 on Wednesday, Aug. 27 from 5 p.m. to 7.p.m.
In lieu of flowers please consider sending contributions to The Little Guild of St. Francis, an animal shelter, 285 Sharon Goshen Tpke, West Cornwall, CT 06796.
Clyde was much loved and will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
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Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — Sidewalk construction that will extend the town sidewalk to Beekman Park got underway this week along Route 44.
On Wednesday, August 20, the crew was checking excavation lines.
Work is expected to continue for the next three to four weeks. Residents should anticipate minor traffic delays.
Sidewalk construction that will extend the town sidewalk to Beekman Park got underway this week along Route 44. On Wednesday, August 20, excavation began. Project Manager Don D. was at the controls of the excavation equipment.Photo by Leila Hawken
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