The Peru Gazette

Governor Claims Protections Will Ensure Integrity of Patient Decision and Preparedness of Medical Institutions

Gov. Hochul News Release of December 17, 2025 – Governor Hochul today announced an agreement with the Legislature to make medical aid in dying available to terminally ill New Yorkers with less than six months to live. This comes after careful reflection and deliberation with the bill’s sponsors, advocacy organizations, and most importantly, everyday New Yorkers who shared personal experiences with the Governor. The bill, with the agreed-upon amendments, will be passed and signed in January, and the law will go into effect six months later.

“New York has long been a beacon of freedom, and now it is time we extend that freedom to terminally ill New Yorkers who want the right to die comfortably and on their own terms,” said Governor Hochul. “My mother died of ALS, and I am all too familiar with the pain of seeing someone you love suffer and being powerless to stop it. Although this was an incredibly difficult decision, I ultimately determined that with the additional guardrails agreed upon with the legislature, this bill would allow New Yorkers to suffer less–to shorten not their lives, but their deaths.

The bill, as passed by the Legislature, had a number of protections in place to ensure that no patient was coerced into utilizing medical aid in dying and no doctor or religiously affiliated health facility was forced to offer medical aid in dying. With today’s agreement, the Governor announces a number of additional guardrails that the Legislature has agreed to enact aimed at ensuring the integrity of the patient’s decision and the preparedness of medical institutions to appropriately administer medical aid in dying. Today’s agreement memorializes a shared path forward on this bill, with additional key guardrails, including:

• A mandatory waiting period of 5 days between when a prescription is written and filled.
• An oral request by the patient for medical aid in dying must be recorded by video or audio.
• A mandatory mental health evaluation of the patient seeking medical aid in dying by a psychologist or psychiatrist.
• A prohibition against anyone who may benefit financially from the death of a patient from being eligible to serve as a witness to the oral request or an interpreter for the patient.
• Limiting the availability of medical aid in dying to New York residents.
• Requiring that the initial evaluation of a patient by a physician be in person.
• Allowing religiously-oriented home hospice providers to opt out of offering medical aid in dying.
• Ensuring that a violation of the law is defined as professional misconduct under the Education Law.
• Extending the effective date of the bill to six months after signing to allow the Department of Health to put into place regulations required to implement the law while also ensuring that health care facilities can properly prepare and train staff for compliance.

State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “Today, we make history. This agreement on Medical Aid in Dying is a monumental victory for every New Yorker who has wished to peacefully end their suffering from a terminal illness. Since we first introduced this legislation nine years ago, I have consistently said this bill is not about ending life, it’s about shortening death. I’m proud that New York is now the 13th state, along with Washington, D.C., that will offer expanded end-of-life care so that terminally ill New Yorkers gain greater autonomy over how much pain and suffering they must endure. I want to thank Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, and Governor Kathy Hochul for her leadership and willingness to take on a difficult issue and help limit the suffering of New Yorkers. Most of all, we owe a deep debt of gratitude to those afflicted with a terminal illness and their families, who shared the heart-wrenching details of their end-of-life decision making in the hopes of improving the options for future generations. New York is a state of dignity and compassion for New Yorkers at all stages of life, and today’s announcement proves just that.” Read more »

Click here to view the Calvin Castine Video 

Click here for the WCAX News story 

Friend presses DEC for answers six months after Assistant Ranger Jackson’s death 

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Click here for the VTDigger story 

Click here for the VTDigger story 

Click here for the Vermont Public story 

News Release of Dec. 15, 2025 – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 5 invites the public to attend the annual Children’s Holiday Party at the regional headquarters in Ray Brook on Thursday, December 18, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Children and their families can meet Santa and Smokey Bear, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and participate in a variety of activities including cookie decorating and coloring.

The DEC Region 5 headquarters is located at 1115 NYS Route 86, Ray Brook, NY 12977. The event will take place in the building’s lobby and main conference room. Please park in the lot directly in front of the building and enter through the front doors. The event is free and open to all members of the public. No RSVP is required.

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

‘Study river’ segments are still waiting for official classification, 50 years later

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Click here for the WCAX News story 

Ham 

Scalloped Potatoes 

Vegetable 

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!

For this installment of Campfire Fare, Adirondack Outlaw Dick Monroe shares a hunting story

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Stories of resilience and community spanning generations

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

Clinton County News Release of 12/12/25 – Clinton County has officially completed the sale of its County-owned nursing home, marking the execution of a long-planned transition designed to protect residents, support staff, and provide long-term fiscal relief for county taxpayers. The closing represents the culmination of extensive due diligence and planning to ensure the facility’s ongoing service to the community.

County leadership emphasized that the transition focuses on continuity—continuity of care for residents, continuity for families who depend on the facility, and continuity of employment for staff who chose to remain through the ownership change.

“This has always been about honoring our responsibilities and putting the needs of the people who rely on this nursing home every day first.” said Mark Henry (Chazy, Area 3-R), Chair of the Clinton County Legislature. “Our priority from the beginning was ensuring residents continue receiving the high-quality care they deserve, while also making a responsible financial decision for our taxpayers. Today’s closing achieves both goals.”

County officials worked to ensure that employees who elected to stay on through the transition were afforded stability and remained supported throughout the process.

“Our team has been committed to a thoughtful and transparent transition,” said County Administrator Christine Peters. “We focused on protecting services, supporting the dedicated staff who serve our residents, and making decisions that strengthen the County’s long-term financial position. I want to thank the employees and residents’ families for their patience and engagement throughout this process.”

“Bottom line, we wanted to make sure the residents were looked after and things stayed steady,” said Kevin Randall (Morrisonville, Area 5-R), Chair of the Human Services Committee. “The folks who live there depend on that stability, and the staff who stayed on do too. This also takes a load off the taxpayers, and that’s important for the County moving forward.”

The sale alleviates the substantial financial burden the facility has historically placed on the County budget, while preserving the essential services the community depends on. A key priority throughout this process was keeping residents in their home community, which is why the county pursued a deliberate and thoughtful approach to ensure the right long-term outcome. County leaders shared that the transition reflects months of careful planning to support residents, employees, and taxpayers alike, and they are confident the facility will continue to serve the community well into the future.

Click here for the WCAX News story 

Click here to view the Adirondack Almanac story 

Click here for the Spectrum 1 News story 

There is an excellent story about this law’s local impact in the December 13, 2025 Press-Republican 

Alveena Altaf, MD

Angad Gill, MD

Plattsburgh practice welcomes new patients

News Release of Dec. 12, 2025, Plattsburgh, NY – CVPH Endocrinology welcomes two board certified endocrinologists to its growing specialty care team – a significant expansion that will improve local access to expert diabetes, metabolic and hormonal-related care in the North Country.

Joining Tina Kader, MD, Ashley Williams, PA-C and Ann Watts, CDE are Alveena Altaf, MD and Angad Gill, MD. Dr. Altaf completed her residency and a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX. She a graduate of Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Kan, Pakistan and the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.  Dr. Altaf is board certified in internal medicine.  Dr. Altaf is board certified in internal medicine.

Dr. Gill completed a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo and a residency in internal medicine at Griffin Hospital, an affiliate of Yale School of Medicine, in Derby, CT.   Board certified in internal medicine, he is a graduate of the Adesh Institute of Medicine Sciences and Research, Bathinda, PB, India.

Both providers are accepting new patients at 210 Cornelia St., Suite 303. To schedule an appointment in Plattsburgh, call 518-314-3460.

Part of the University of Vermont Health System Medical Group, the CVPH endocrinology team takes great pride in working with each patient to develop individual treatment and management plans that include education and guidance on lifestyle management.

“Our mission is simple: to bring exceptional, high-quality care right to the communities we serve. We believe every patient deserves advanced, compassionate, and convenient care—close to home and tailored to their needs. Our providers take great pride in delivering state-of-the-art treatment while empowering patients with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to manage their conditions confidently, prevent complications, and enjoy the best possible quality of life,” said Jennifer Kelly, DO, Division Chief of Endocrinology

Learn more about these providers and other valued members of the medical staff at www.uvmhealth.org.

The Emergency Department (ED) at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital celebrates the DAISY Team Award during a surprise ceremony. “They didn’t just provide care. They created a connection. By treating a young patient like a friend, this entire team shows that true healing begins with compassion,” explains Michael Wells, BSN, RN, ED nurse manager.

Katie Totten, RN (left) and Hailey McLaughlin, RN were two of four nurses who received the DAISY Team Award during a surprise ceremony with their Emergency Department colleagues at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. They were honored for the compassionate care they provided to an autistic four-year-old boy who had a serious fear of hospital settings.

Four nurses honored with DAISY Team Award for helping a young autistic patient feel safe and brave 

CVPH News Release of Dec. 11, 2025, Plattsburgh, NY – When Alexandria Stefaniak carried her four-year-old son into the Emergency Department at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, fear filled the air. Her little boy, who is autistic, had always been afraid of hospitals. Stefaniak expected tears, panic and heartbreak.

Instead, a group of nurses transformed that moment of fear into one of courage and comfort. Stefaniak says Katie Totten, RN and Hailey McLaughlin, RN went beyond excellent clinical care of her child, giving him hope and his family peace. She remembers them speaking gently to him, explaining every step and making sure he felt safe. Stefaniak says they felt like family.

“They went above and beyond words can even express,” Stefaniak writes in her nomination of the nurses for the DAISY Team Award at the hospital. “They made him feel comfortable and gave him the best experience. This resulted in him not being afraid of the hospital anymore. He was the bravest boy I have ever seen him be.”

Totten and McLaughlin weren’t alone. Lysandra Barney, RN and Courtney Coon, RN played an equally vital role. They purchased Hot Wheels cars to turn anxiety into curiosity.

“Courtney and Lysandra showed remarkable compassion by using simple objects to spark curiosity and comfort,” says Michael Wells, BSN, RN, nurse manager in the Emergency Department. “Their creativity helped a young patient shift his focus from fear to fun, building trust in a moment that mattered most.”

Stefaniak adds this was life-changing for a child who had always dreaded medical visits. She noticed the nurses didn’t rush, watching them connect, laugh and celebrate his bravery. “It not only meant the world to him but for both of us as parents as well,” Stefaniak shares. She adds that by the time they left, her son was calm and proud. She says he faced his fears and came out stronger, thanks to four nurses who understood that care is about more than medicine.

Stefaniak believes her son will remember these nurses for a long time. So will she. “I am so grateful for them,” she writes. “They made a difference for my son, and for me.”

The nurses were presented with the DAISY Team Award during a surprise ceremony with their Emergency Department colleagues. During the award presentation, they received a certificate commending them as extraordinary nurses. They, like all honorees, also received a DAISY Award pin.

Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2018 to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients. Nomination forms and boxes are located at each of the hospital’s main entrances and online atUVMHealth.org. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues.  A committee reviews nominations and awards a deserving nurse each quarter.

The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.The DAISY Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System). The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. More information is available at DAISYfoundation.org