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Town of Wilmington Essex County Wilderness Rescue: On April 19 at 6:14 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from two hikers looking for assistance getting down from the top of Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway. The two 19-year-olds from Quebec were not prepared for the cold and rainy conditions on the trail. At 6:52 p.m., Forest Rangers Curcio and Foutch reached the hikers on the road. Their clothes were soaked through, and if further subjected to the cold, the pair would likely have suffered from hypothermia. Rangers provided warm clothes and transported the hikers to their vehicle. Resources were clear by 7:50 p.m.
To avoid similar issues, hikers are encouraged to check the weather before a hike, wear insulating layers, and bring traction devices when icy conditions are possible.
Town of Newcomb Essex County Wilderness Search: On April 21 at 2 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from New York State Police about a GPS beacon initiated by a lost hiker. Coordinates placed the hiker off the Santanoni Express trail near the junction with the Bradley Pond trail. At 5:05 a.m., Forest Ranger Martin located the 36-year-old from Brockport and 41-year-old from Fairport and escorted the hikers back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 7:50 a.m.
AGENDA – Peru Town Board Regular Meeting of April 14, 2025 @ 6 p.m.
Call Meeting to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
MOTION/DISCUSSION: To Accept Reports from all Departments: (Water/Sewer/Valcour; Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning; Supervisor’s Report; Court; Website; Banking Reports, and JCEO);
March 2020 Peru Gazette Photo. Richard Williams is chairing the meeting.
Once again, the Peru Town is seeking Planning Board volunteers. The longtime chairman, Richard Williams, is giving up his position, and one vacant position has not been filled. The board can have up to seven members; It’s been getting by with six plus one alternate.
Regarding serving on the board, Richard Williams explained, “Why not get involved in the town? You vote; you live here. It’s only one meeting a month and you learn about town government. I’ve enjoyed serving on the board, trying to help out on projects, getting them moving forward, and working with the surveyors who represent the applicants. It’s rewarding to see them come in with other projects.” Williams doesn’t keep records, but he thinks he started serving on the board about 24 years ago and has been chairman for about fifteen years.
Community service has been a hallmark of Richard William’s life. He taught at the Peru Elementary School for thirty-two years and has been a Peru Volunteer Fire Department member for fifty-three years. He is moving to South Carolina, where he’ll be near his son, Tyler, and not far from his son, Townsend, who lives in North Carolina as a member of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division. Tyler and Townsend were members of the Peru Fire Department, with Tyler serving as chief.
People interested in serving on the planning board should call Code Enforcement Officer Bob Guynup at 518-643-2745, Extension 103.
On Friday, April 18, Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Michael Cashman unveiled plans for the Battlefield Memorial Park’s Remembrance Plaza. The park is on Route 9, directly opposite Claire and Carl’s Restaurant. Here’s a link to a November 17, 2023, Sun Community News story on the park.
On April 18, the Peru Gazette photographed the park’s current status.
Plattsburgh – April 18, 2025 – The Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor, Michael Cashman, unveiled the signature piece of this next chapter: the Remembrance Plaza — a space of reflection and reverence, honoring those who served and sacrificed for our freedoms.
Mr. Cashman’s Facebook Post:
With the 250th anniversary of the United States (USA 250) on the horizon, the Battlefield Memorial Gateway is more than a local project — it’s a piece of a national story. Situated on the shores of Lake Champlain, one of America’s most historic waterways, this memorial is being built to honor our past and inspire future generations. The timing couldn’t be more meaningful.
A heartfelt thank you to Assemblyman Billy Jones, whose leadership and advocacy helped secure $300,000 in state funding to propel Phase II forward. His commitment to veterans, history, and the North Country continues to make a real difference.
The Clinton County American Legion has been a critical partner in this public-private collaboration with the The Town of Plattsburgh. Their enduring dedication to honoring service is a cornerstone of this effort.
A special shoutout to John Rock, a tireless champion of this project. His passion, energy, and leadership have kept the flame burning bright from day one.
A big thank-you to AES Northeast, right here in Plattsburgh, for turning the committee’s vision into an actionable blueprint. Their engineering team has taken dreams off the page and into reality — check out the stunning 3D imaging of the new Remembrance Plaza!
We’re proud to announce that bid documents are going out, marking a major milestone in our journey. But we aren’t done yet — we still need our community to step up and support this historic project.
Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Drive, Monday, April 21,from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru.
The blood collected by the Donor Center provides more than 95% of the blood used at CVPH and is used to supply other hospitals in Elizabethtown, Malone, Massena, Saranac Lake and Glens Falls.
St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 is coordinating the drive.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate, and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from across New York State.
Town of Harrietstown, Franklin County Wilderness Search: On April 8 at 10:15 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a subject concerned about a 57-year-old friend who was one day overdue from a hike on Seward Mountain. Six Forest Rangers started searching at 2:30 a.m., and 12 more Rangers later joined the search. One crew located the subject’s snowshoe tracks after brushing below four inches of fresh snow. The Rangers followed those tracks for 100 yards and continued in that direction. At 12:36 p.m., the Rangers located the subject at the Ouluska Pass lean-to off the Northville-Placid trail. The hiker was tired, but otherwise in good health. Rangers escorted the hiker back to the trailhead where he was met by a family member. Resources were clear at 4:52 p.m.
Town of Burke Franklin County Law Enforcement: On April 13, Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger response to a wildland fire. Burke Volunteer Fire Department responded and extinguished a fire started by a subject illegally burning debris and leaves in their yard. A Forest Ranger issued a ticket for a violation of the statewide annual ban on residential brush burning.
Village of Saranac Lake Essex County Wilderness Search: On April 13 at 9:25 p.m., Forest Ranger responded to a call for a shoeless subject last seen walking into the woods. Rangers searched with Saranac Lake Fire Department and Saranac Lake Police. At 10:30 p.m., Rangers Adams, Corey, and Jansen located the 26-year-old in good health and walked them back to their residence. Saranac Lake EMS took over care of the subject.
Honoring Dispatchers: April 13 to 19 is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, which honors the vital work of public safety telecommunicators, who are often the first point of contact for emergency calls.
While Plattsburgh International Airport qualifies as a port of entry under CBP’s criteria, it has not received this designation, which has resulted in increased costs for the airport and travelers flying in and out.
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik reintroduced the bipartisan Border Airport Fairness Act to designate Plattsburgh International Airport as a Port of Entry (POE), saving the airport around $800,000 per year.
“The Border Airport Fairness Act will save Plattsburgh International Airport hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs by ensuring that it receives the designation it deserves. My legislation makes certain that Plattsburgh International Airport is equipped with the resources it needs to continue meeting the transportation needs of Upstate New York and North Country families and continue to provide access for tourists visiting our region,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
“I’m proud to work alongside Congresswoman Elise Stefanik on this bipartisan legislation to save South Texans and travelers from duplicative costs,” said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX). “As our region continues to rapidly grow, it’s essential that our airports and transportation infrastructure not only keep up with increased demand for commercial travel but also continue to support critical federal operations. This legislation is an investment in our future.”
“This bill is great news for our airport and the people who rely on it. Removing the user-fee burden will help us put those dollars back into operations, maintenance, and future improvements,” said Robert Hall, Plattsburgh International Airport Committee Chairperson (D-Area 10, Plattsburgh). “We appreciate Congresswoman Stefanik’s continued support for keeping our airport strong and sustainable.”
“Plattsburgh International Airport is one of our region’s most significant economic drivers, and this legislation addresses a longstanding barrier to its continued growth. Eliminating the financial strain of user-fee status will allow for smarter reinvestment in infrastructure and services. I commend Congresswoman Stefanik for her leadership in advancing a solution that enhances regional competitiveness and long-term sustainability,” said Mark Henry, Clinton County Legislative Chairperson (R-Area 3, Chazy).
“This bill is only fair, treating Plattsburgh International the same as so many other airports,” said Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “Its adoption would secure our airport Customs operation permanently and thereby support the development of new international air activities here. And it would free valuable resources for airport marketing, air service development and other improvements. We thank Congresswoman Stefanik for being our champion in the House and will continue to support her efforts on our behalf. Onward and upward!”
Plattsburgh International Airport is one of only two primary commercial service airports in close proximity to the Northern or Southern Border designated as user-fee airports. This means the airports must pay out of pocket for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services such as security screenings, cargo security and examinations, and immigration inspections.
“We now have the border crossing numbers for Champlain for March and, as anticipated, car crossings were down 31% compared with March 2024,” reports Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “Visitation was down 16% in February but we knew March was the month that tariffs and counter-tariffs hit, along with a heightened sense that many of our northern friends and neighbors would avoid travel to the U.S. for now.”
Douglas notes that part of the higher percentage can be attributed to the Easter break, when many Canadians traditionally travel in the U.S., falling in late March last year. “We also cannot define the relative degree to which three factors are all affecting cross-border travel,” he notes. “But it is a combination of a poor exchange rate for Canadians, a broad sense of hurt among Canadians, and the 25% surcharge imposed by Canada at the border as part of retaliatory tariffs.” While car traffic is down, the Chamber reports that truck crossings for March were up 12% and were up in January and February as well.
“We especially feel and appreciate the sense of hurt as one would with one’s family,” Douglas says, noting that the Chamber is engaged in a marketing campaign in Quebec via social media and TV that looks to differentiate the greater Plattsburgh area’s special connection with Quebecers, along with tools for area businesses to highlight the welcoming of Canadian visitors. “We need to remember that if visitation is off by 30% or more, that still means many of our neighbors are continuing to be here,” he notes.
The Chamber is hopeful that expected U.S.-Canada negotiations following the upcoming April 28th Canadian election can lead to an agreed way forward, but notes the need for a significant period of outreach, reconciliation and healing thereafter.
Shepherd’s Pie
Plattsburgh – April 18, 2025 – The Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor, Michael Cashman, unveiled the signature piece of this next chapter: the Remembrance Plaza — a space of reflection and reverence, honoring those who served and sacrificed for our freedoms.
Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Drive, Monday, April 21,
Town of Harrietstown, Franklin County
North country Chamber Of Coommerce Press Release