vol 2, Issue 8: Another wonderful Community betterment weekend

​Blue skies, warm weather, and a spirit of excitement and camaraderie were in the air at last weekend Community Betterment Weekend. The events themselves (golf, tennis, paddling) brought many people together. However, the reason behind these events is what makes this weekend so special. The Alexandria Bay Chapter of the Foundation for Community Betterment has given over $54,000 to community organizations and families in our community in 2026. Money that is raised and dispersed locally is what makes this nonprofit organization so special and worthwhile.
The purpose of this week’s Ripple Report is to highlight the events of July 10 and 11, from the first swing of a tennis racket on Friday morning to the conclusion of the Recipient Ceremony on Saturday afternoon. It was an amazing weekend that will not soon be forgotten. Especially with the ripples of generosity that filled the hearts of those in our community. People were inspired to go out into the world and make a difference, which is what this weekend is all about.
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The John Russell Memorial Tennis Tournament began at 9 a.m. on Friday at the Alex Bay Municipal Tennis Courts. Women’s and men’s pairs took to the courts with high enthusiasm, themed outfits and patriotic decorations on display.

Dick Stockton, Terry Satterley, Tad Clark and Jamie Drinkwater Stockton show off their patriotic flair at this year’s John Russell Memorial Golf Tournament

​Women’s Consolation Round Winners: Jan Coleman and Kathy Banks
Men’s Consolation Round Winners: Andy Austin and Stephen Anderson
Women’s Doubles Runners-Up: Averell Manes and Jamie Stockton
Women’s Doubles Champions: Coleen Austin and Diana Grater
Men’s Doubles Runners-Up: Bob Weldon and Dalton Munson
Men’s Doubles Champions: Jonathan Kendall and Bruce Beckstead

The July 10th Golf Tournament was a great success, with rounds taking place at 10:30 and 2:00 at the Alex Bay Municipal Golf Course. The results from the day’s golf events are as follows:
Men’s Division: first, Reecy Gionet and Shawn Martin; second, Dave Hurst and Ticky Millett; third, Tom Turgeon and son Tom Turgeon.
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Women’s Division: first, Robin Martin and Lucy Gionet; second, Teagan Ward and Robin Martin; third, Lori Turgeon and Pat Dolan.
Co-ed Division: first, Danny and Maddy Gionet; second, Kyle and Susie Gionet; third, Gary and Jane Bryant.
Individual Hole Prizes were won by Reecy Gionet, Jane Bryant, Danny Gionet, Maddy Gionet, Tom Turgeon, Millie Savarese, Rick Roberts, Danny Gionet, Robin Martin, Carol Mossien, and Mary Day.

Golfers await the beginning of their round as volunteer Lori Turgeon says a few quick words of thanks.

​As the sun sank lower in the sky, the festivities moved to Bonnie Castle. The evening began with a special gathering on the deck overlooking the river, honoring and thanking the “25 Ripple Donors”. Rosemary Savage was a special guest honored at the Ripple Donor party. Rosemary received financial support from Betterment several years ago to assist with her educational goals. She is now a physician in St. Augustine, Florida. Dr. Savage thanked Betterment and the teachers in attendance who saw her potential and helped her to become the successful individual that she is today.

Doctor Rosemary Savage is flanked by many of those who have supported her educational journey at Friday’s Ripple Party. From left to right: Lucy Gionet, Carol Babcock, Robin Martin, Patty Wagoner, Martha Grimes, Rosemary, Katy Allen, Melinda Comstock, Jeanne Snow, and Lisa Tillman

The Welcome Party followed this gathering, and was well-attended by event participants, volunteers, donors and sponsors. The band Serendipity provided fantastic entertainment as guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres, desserts, raffles and a silent auction. The backdrop of the beautiful St. Lawrence River served as a perfect reminder of the ripples of goodness that brought everyone together.

The sun was shining brightly at Scenic View Park on Saturday morning, as 115 paddlers began arriving with their kayaks, canoes and paddle boards. The beach soon became filled with color, laughter and happy chatter as people awaited the beginning of the 25th Paddle for Betterment. At 9:00, the Alex Bay fire boat sent up a celebratory spray of water, signaling the beginning of the event. Paddlers made their way along the shore of the river, with planned stops along the way to pick up playing cards. Each vessel was gifted with a dry bag to keep their cards and personal belongings safe and dry. Once back on the beach these cards could be turned in as a poker hand, with the chance to win prizes.

Prizes were also given to first-, second- and third-place finishers in adult and youth categories. In the adult category, Greg Lewis from Grand Island, NY finished in first place, Jen Pickman Ogdensburg in second and Gayle Schneider from Rochester in third. In the youth category, Lenora Bates from Alex Bay finished in first place, followed by Cooper Ramm from Alex Bay in second. Dylan Curley from Annapolis, Maryland finished in third. Raffle and square board winners were also announced at this time. Although early finishers were recognized and given prizes, the spirit in the pavilion was not competitive. Everyone who returned from the paddle talked about how beautiful it was to be out on the river, what fun they had, and how they couldn’t wait to do it again next year.

Many of the paddlers embark on their journey at Saturday’s Paddle for Betterment. Closest to the camera is Craig Garlock, joined by 5 of his grandchildren as first mates. Craig and his crew were the last to arrive back at the beach, but they all arrived safely.

The Recipient Ceremony began at 11 a.m. in the pavilion, which truly is the highlight of the weekend. Several of this year’s community organizations and individuals receiving financial support from Betterment had the opportunity to be honored and express their thanks. Many of these people helped out at the event and plan to do so in the future. The lemonade stand was also on site, with a family of young volunteers serving delicious lemonade. The lemonade stand had a goal of raising $2,500 this year, in order to have that amount matched by the Northern New York Community Foundation. Amazingly, that goal was met on Saturday morning, with a generous $200 donation from Marta Beach. Marta was also Betterment’s photographer, and she did an amazing job taking photos to capture the entirety of Community Betterment Weekend. The ripples of kindness that take place on this special weekend are truly too numerous to count. In 25 years, this event has grown by leaps and bounds. There is no doubt that Carolyn and Pat Curley would be proud to see how our community continues to unite to make such a positive impact.

One other ripple to mention from the weekend is the Thousand Islands Challenge Pickleball Tournament, which took place at the TI Club on Wellesley Island. The Thousand Islands Pickleball Group hosted the 90+ player event from July 9 – 11, which generated a $2,500 donation to Betterment, followed by an additional $500 donation from one of their supporters. The Foundation for Community Betterment is incredibly thankful for the generosity of this group. We look forward to partnering with them in the future.
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Overall, Community Betterment Weekend was a resounding success. The volunteers, participants and recipients came together to have fun, make a difference and celebrate this amazing community. It truly takes a village to orchestrate an event of this magnitude. The ability to watch the events and philanthropy unfold over the course of the weekend is what it’s all about, and there’s no better place to be. For anyone who is interested in donating, getting involved and giving back, visit communitybetterment.org/alexandriabay. See you next year, July 9 and 10, 2027 for Community Betterment Weekend, where the river becomes a tradition.

Many of the Betterment volunteers gather for a photo after the Recipient Ceremony in the Scenic View Park Pavilion. They are joined by Betterment’s mascot Rippley, who made several appearances throughout the weekend.