The Peru Gazette

Elizabethtown, NY, May 12, 2026 — A long-overdue honor will soon be restored to a local War of 1812 soldier who gave his life during the Battle of Plattsburgh. Private Ansel Holcomb, a member of Captain Calkin’s Company, was wounded during the battle on September 11, 1814 and succumbed to his injuries on September 13. Despite his sacrifice, Holcomb’s gravestone at Boquet Cemetery in New Russia, New York has been missing for generations—either never installed or lost over time.

Holcomb was one of two local soldiers from Captain Calkin’s Company killed in action during the Battle of Plattsburgh. Private Isaac B. Toms fell on September 11, 1814, while Holcomb died shortly after from his wounds. Both men are recognized as local heroes whose service helped secure one of the most decisive American victories of the War of 1812.

For the past six years, Maggie Bartley, Director of the Elizabethtown Museum, has worked persistently with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in an effort to secure a government-issued replacement gravestone for Holcomb. Despite extensive documentation and repeated submissions, the request has not been approved.

In response, Boquet Valley American Legion Post 551 has stepped forward to ensure Holcomb receives the recognition he deserves. Legion member Newman Tryon has personally purchased a new gravestone—valued at $1,400—from J.C. Memorials of Ellenburg Center. Community members wishing to contribute toward the cost of the gravestone or support the September ceremony may contact Post 551 directly.

The new gravestone will be placed before Memorial Day beside the Holcomb family plot, where seven to eight Holcomb relatives are already interred. A formal commemorative ceremony is planned for September, honoring both Ansel Holcomb and Isaac B. Toms, as well as all local soldiers who fought in the Battle of Plattsburgh.

“This is more than a marker,” said members of Post 551. “It is a promise that our community remembers the men who stood in defense of our nation over two centuries ago. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

Further details about the September ceremony will be announced in the coming months.

Submissions for the 2026 Peru Athletics Hall of Fame are due May 30th, 2026. To nominate a member, please complete this online application. Those who prefer to mail in an application can print and mail this form to one of the listed addresses. Please note that a full submission includes a cover letter and a comprehensive history of the nominee’s athletic accomplishments at Peru Central School. Please email peruathletichalloffame@gmail.com if you need help or have any questions.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will occur at halftime of the Peru vs. Saranac football game on Saturday October 17th, 2026.

 

Clinton County, NY, May 13, 2026  – The Clinton County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) today announced the approval of the first project under its Workforce Development Program, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the region’s workforce and enhancing its ability to support business growth, attract new industries and employers, and advance job opportunities and economic welfare of the people of Clinton County, New York.

The approved project involves the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) at Clinton Community College, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to training and upskilling the region’s workforce in high-demand manufacturing fields.

The project will expand training opportunities in areas such as machining, welding, electrical systems, and industrial technologies, addressing a critical skills gap identified by regional employers. The program is expected to train more than 150 individuals, with a strong focus on connecting participants to employment opportunities within Clinton County, New York.

The Workforce Development Program is a new initiative established by the CCIDA to directly invest in employer-driven training programs Read more »

Albany, May 13, 2026 – New York’s 106 local Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) reported 4,183 active projects with a total value of over $140 billion in fiscal year end (FYE) 2024, an increase of 3.5% or $4.7 billion from the prior year, according to an annual report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“IDAs granted $2.1 billion in tax exemptions in 2024, continuing an upward trend,” DiNapoli said. “The tax benefits provided by IDAs can attract businesses and spur job growth in the communities that they serve, but caution is warranted. Local officials and other stakeholders should monitor the costs and benefits associated with IDA projects to ensure that these investments yield positive results for their residents and deliver on the job creation, retention and other commitments being made.”

DiNapoli’s report summarizes the most recent annual project and financial data reported by IDAs through the Public Authorities Reporting Information System. The data is not independently verified by the State Comptroller’s Office. Highlights of notable IDA activity in FYE 2024 includes:

• Of the 4,183 active IDA projects, 2,624 (62.7%) were county IDA projects, followed by towns (17.5%), cities excluding New York City (12.3%), New York City (6.9%), villages (0.5%) and city-town IDAs (0.1%).
• The number of IDA projects has declined by 8.9% since FYE 2014, while the total value of all IDA projects has increased by 67.6%.
• Project operators estimated that 196,067 jobs would be created by all IDA projects, a decline of 3.3% from FYE 2023. This reflects 6,639 fewer jobs, but the median salary for these jobs increased slightly – from $40,000 in FYE 2023 to $41,065 in FYE 2024.
• The number of net jobs gained (reflecting current jobs reported by project operators minus initial jobs reported before becoming IDA projects) was 204,301, a decrease of 9.9% from FYE 2023.
• Total tax exemptions for IDA projects were nearly $2.1 billion, up 5.2% ($101 million) over FYE 2023. Property tax exemptions represented over 87% ($1.8 billion) of all tax exemptions granted.
• A total of $942 million in payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) partially offset those tax exemptions, resulting in total net tax exemptions of $1.1 billion, up 3.9% from FYE 2023.
• Aggregate IDA revenues totaled $123.7 million, while expenditures totaled $87.8 million. The New York City IDA reported $6 million in total expenditures, the highest of any IDA.
• IDAs reported 187 new projects, of which the Finger Lakes region, for the second year in a row, had the most of any region at 45 projects, followed by the regions of Long Island (39), Mid-Hudson, and Western New York (both 20).
• New IDA projects had a combined value of $4.9 billion. The Mid-Hudson region had the highest aggregate value of new projects of any region with $1.9 billion, followed by the regions of Long Island ($814 million), the Finger Lakes ($555 million) and the Capital District ($262 million). Conversely, the Mohawk Valley and the North Country regions each had under $100 million in total new project value.

• Only three regions – New York City, the North Country and the Capital District – increased their project value compared to FYE 2023. New York City increased from $97 million in FYE 2023 to $595 million in FYE 2024, driven largely by new projects in the category of transportation, communication, electric, gas, and sanitary services.

IDA reform legislation enacted in 2015 requires IDAs to assess the progress of each project annually and develop policies for the discontinuance or return of some or all of the financial assistance provided for a project (known as a claw back) under specified circumstances, such as material shortfalls in job creation or violations of a project agreement. In FYE 2015, 18 out of 109 active IDAs (16.5%) reported that none of their projects had claw back agreements. In FYE 2024, that share had fallen to 10 out of 106 IDAs (9.4%).

DiNapoli’s office examines IDA costs and outcomes in several ways, including performing audits of the operations of individual IDAs, providing training to IDA officials on various topics, and encouraging improvements in IDA procedures and reporting.

Annual Report

Performance of Industrial Development Agencies in New York State – 2026 Annual Report 

IDA Data by Region

Industrial Development Agencies in New York State

Students from across the area were recognized for academic success, perseverance and leadership

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Lake Placid, NY (May 11, 2026) – The Lake Placid July 4th Organizing Committee is inviting community members to take part in the annual Independence Day celebration, which features a parade down Main Street. Organizers are calling on the community to help make this year’s event the most vibrant yet, with all encouraged to participate. The parade will take place on Saturday, July 4, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Businesses, civic groups, school groups, neighborhood crews, clubs (official or unofficial), and individuals of all ages are encouraged to join in the fun, whether by entering a float, marching, dancing, rolling, or walking in the parade. This year’s theme is “Rings of Independence: Celebrating 250 Years and Lake Placid’s Legacy.”  Decorate your floats, vehicles, bikes, etc. to celebrate Lake Placid and its legacy.

“We want this to feel like a true hometown celebration,” said Catherine Ericson, ROOST community liaison and member of the organizing committee. “This parade is about bringing people together in a fun, visible way along Main Street. We welcome everyone from local businesses and scout troops to workplace teams and groups of friends to join in. It’s an opportunity to showcase the creativity, pride, and energy that define this community.”To register, contact Catherine Ericson at the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) via email: catherine@roostadk.com. Please include your name, group name, contact info, and note whether you will be entering a float or walking/biking. Registration is due by June 12.

The parade lineup begins at 4:15 p.m. on Parkside Drive. Announcers at Mid’s Park will introduce each group as it passes. Children on bikes should gather behind the Post Office. Parkside Drive will be closed to traffic from 4:15 p.m. until the parade has passed at approximately 5 p.m. Due to safety reasons, if your group will have candy and other takeaways, please have someone outside of your vehicle or float handing items out.

For additional event details and updates on the full day of Lake Placid’s Independence Day celebration — including music, food, family activities, and fireworks — visit: lakeplacid.com/events/lake-placid-july-4th.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is a destination marketing and management organization that leads tourism initiatives in Essex and Hamilton counties, along with the Adirondack communities of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake. ROOST’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for residents by managing and diversifying the region’s tourism economy while promoting sustainable visitation.

PLATTSBURGH, NY – May 12 2026 – The Strand Center for the Arts is excited to host “Organic Matter. ” Organic Matter will be a group exhibition curated by Gallery Manager & Associate Curator, Elsa Koop-Angelicola. This exhibition will showcase the artwork of six artists to display the raw beauty of abstract elements as well as the skill of traditional arts to move and present as something far greater than what the eye initially sees. With how quickly technology is advancing, it has begun to cast a looming shadow over the traditional arts and this exhibition also means to make a statement on the power of traditional art and the skills of the artists.The artists that will be featured in this exhibition are Ali Della Bitta, Susan Granfors, Sienna Martz, Peter Russom, Dennis Smyth, and Caro Worley. 

“As human beings, we are innately organic and connected to nature, the earth, and everything in between. Everything in this sense can be considered organic, alive, and a part of the human experience. It is certainly not uncommon for artists to take these organic elements that are found in nature and everyday life, including in our own lives, and turn it into something spectacular. As organic beings, it almost seems innate for humans to be enamored and inspired by the organic parts of nature and life around us, and this can be said for the artwork that will be presented in this exhibition.

Elsa Koop-Angelicola, Gallery Manager & Associate Curator

Strand Center for the Arts Gallery Hours:

Open 1 p.m.—8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday

Open 10 a.m. —3 p.m. Saturday

Closed Sunday—Tuesday

ADIRONDACKS, USA (May 12, 2026) – Communities throughout the Adirondack region are preparing to welcome local farmers markets this summer and fall. Many markets will begin in late May and continue through mid-October.

With more than 20 farmers’ markets throughout the Adirondacks, the region offers a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, bread, honey, dairy products, maple syrup, baked goods, handmade crafts, and other locally produced functional items and works of art. These markets take place throughout area towns and villages, including well-established locations in Lake Placid, Elizabethtown, Keene Valley, Saranac Lake, Schroon Lake, and Ticonderoga. Farmers market locations throughout the Adirondack region can be found at: AdirondacksUSA.com/farmers-markets.

Adirondack Farmers Market Cooperative is an organization that supports small farms and local artisans throughout Essex County, enabling local agricultural producers the ability to sell fruits, vegetables, dairy products, bread, flowers and other farm products. It also helps to support the region’s numerous artisans and craftspeople who offer their one-of-a-kind, hand-made creations at farmers’ market locations throughout the area.

According to Adirondack Farmers Market Cooperative President Glen Van Wie, farm products, along with items created by area artisans, provide a variety of items at farmers’ markets. Local production and sales contribute positively to communities in more ways than one. “We are fortunate to have several farms, artisans, local producers of beverages, maple syrup, flowers, honey, and more, all based throughout the Lake Champlain Region and within many of our towns and villages,” he said. “Having access to locally grown, farmed, and hand-made products is something that we don’t take for granted. Additionally, our farmers’ markets allow us to socialize with our neighbors as we browse – by bringing our community members together, the markets offer opportunities for important social connections.”

Adirondack Harvest, another local organization committed to promoting local agriculture, encourages residents and visitors alike to explore their local farmers’ markets. “Farmers’ markets are not only convenient for purchasing fresh, seasonal, and locally-grown food directly from the farmer; they also offer a chance to engage with the people who grow, harvest, and make these products,” said Isabella Susino, Adirondack Harvest program lead. “Agritourism is a wonderful way to learn about local Adirondack agricultural practices, animal care, and land stewardship, which are vital to the region’s economy.”

Adirondack Harvest works to support agriculture throughout the region to increase opportunities for profitable and sustainable production of high-quality food and agricultural products, and to expand consumer choices for locally produced healthy food. The nonprofit connects farmers, producers, and consumers, helping to ensure that fresh produce is accessible to as many people as possible.

It’s also important to note that local, state, and federal programs help provide financial assistance to those experiencing food insecurity, which can often be used at farm stores and farmers’ markets. Adirondack Harvest’s website provides a comprehensive guide to greater Adirondack and North Country farmers’ markets, where you can find out more about market locations and schedules, along with a detailed FAQ page listing food assistance programs available throughout the region.

“Farmers’ markets offer more than just fresh food – they provide a true taste of the Adirondack way of life,” said Susino. “Shopping locally not only supports small farms and reduces environmental impact, but it also strengthens the communities where we live and places that visitors experience while they’re here.”

2026 Farmers’ Markets

• Crown Point: Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 2065 County Highway 2, Veterans Memorial Park – July 16  to August 27, 2026, as part of the Crown Point Market & Music series.
• Elizabethtown: Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 7590 Court Street – June 12 to August 28, 2026.
• Indian Lake: Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 106 Crow Hill Road – July 4 to September 26, 2026.
• Keene Valley: Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 2204 NY-73 Scenic – May 24 to October 11, 2026.
• Lake Placid: Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 2634 Main Street  – July 1 to September 2, 2026.
• Long Lake: Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on South Hill Road – June 25 to September 3, 2026.
• Port Henry: Fridays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 36 Harbour Lane – June 19  to September 4, 2026.
• Saranac Lake: Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on River Street – May 16 to October 10, 2026.
• Schroon Lake: Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 15 Leland Avenue – June 13 to September 5, 2026.
• Speculator: Thursdays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on NY-30 – June 18 to September 3, 2026.
• Ticonderoga: Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 3 McCormick St. – July 11 to October 10, 2026.
• Tupper Lake: Fridays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 320 Park Street – June 26 to September 11, 2026.
• Willsboro: Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Gateway Park – June 11 – September 3, 2026

Federal officials are hyping a USGS lithium study covering parts of Vermont and its neighbors. Geologists urge caution.

Click here for the vtdigger story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

 WHEN: Sunday May 24th, 4pm.  Doors open at 3:30pm
WHERE: The Saranac Methodist Church, Route 3 Saranac NY
TICKETS: General Admission $20 and the door. Children and Students $10

Hill and Hollow Music presents guitar duo Miles Johnston and Michael Vascones with flautist Anthony Trinfo for a program ranging from Back and Piazzolla to contemporary arrangements custom to the trio.  The trio has been featured throughout the country including Carnegie since winning their spots on the 2025/26 Young Concert Artists roster.

For 65 years Young Concert Artists has stood at the forefront of discovering and launching the careers of the future leaders of classical music. Founded by Susan Wadsworth in 1961, YCA has invested in its artists by providing them with the tools, opportunities, and infrastructure to take their careers to the highest level.   

Miles Johnston

Miles Johnston is a classical guitarist known for his “outstanding technique, poise, and sensitivity” (Broadway World), Miles Johnston is one of Australia’s finest young musicians forging an international career. His performances are known for their “deeply considered musicianship, immaculate care and superlative technique” (5MBS). Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Miles was the winner of the 2018 Adelaide International Guitar Competition, and, along with his brother Ziggy as a guitar duo, won the 2023 Young Concert Artists (YCA) Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, becoming the second guitarists to receive this prestigious award in the organization’s 65-year history.

Based in New York City, Miles maintains an active concert schedule across Australia and the US. He has performed at iconic venues across these countries including Merkin Hall, the Kennedy Center, Salk Institute, the Adelaide Festival Centre, and the Melbourne Recital Centre. This season, Miles is performing in over 10 states across the US, as well as making his debut in Brazil concertizing and teaching across São Paulo and Salvador. His repertoire covers the full spectrum of the classical canon with a focus on commissioning and premiering underplayed works by current composers. Miles is a graduate of The Juilliard School where he completed his Artist Diploma and Master or Music under the tutelage of multiple Grammy Winner, Sharon Isbin, and was the Musician-in-Residence at Dumbarton Oaks under Harvard University during the 2024/25 season Miles plays a double-top guitar by Australian luthier Jim Redgate and uses Savarez strings. 

Michael Vascones

Michael Vascones is a guitarist and mandolinist from Queens, New York. Michael completed his undergraduate studies in guitar at the Juilliard School in 2021, studying under Sharon Isbin, and finished his graduate studies at Manhattan School of Music in 2023 as a student of Mark Delpriora. Michael recently completed his doctorate in music at the University of Southern California, where he was an assistant lecturer in the guitar department. Michael is currently on the guitar faculty of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Michael has performed on guitar and mandolin with prestigious orchestras and chamber ensembles, including New World Symphony, Ensemble Fantasque, USC Thornton Symphony Orchestra, The New Juilliard Ensemble, and the MSM Symphony Orchestra. Michael has recently formed a guitar quartet called the CalMuse Quartet, making their debut performance at the LA Times Festival of Books where they performed in collaboration with the radio station Classical California KUSC.

Michael has won first prize in numerous national and international guitar competitions, including the Boston Guitarfest Competition, Le Domaine Forget 2025 Guitar Contest, ASTA-Los Angeles Classical Guitar Competition, Southern Guitar Festival and Competition, and he was the winner for the National Federation of Music Clubs Guitar Award. Michael was also a finalist in the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition, Senior Division. He has been featured on numerous radio stations, including Minnesota Public Radio with his recordings of works by Justin Holland, the 19th century African-American guitarist and composer, and he has made numerous live performances on KPFK Pacifica Radio.

Anthony Trionfo

Anthony Trionfo, First Prize Winner of the 2016 YCA Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, has been praised by The New York Times for his “breezily virtuosic” playing. He is quickly establishing himself as one of today’s most dynamic musical talents. Recent solo engagements include performances with the Edmonton Symphony, Grant Park Festival Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, and Mobile Symphony. He has also appeared in recitals and chamber music performances at Clemson University, Festival de Ibagué in Colombia, The Kennedy Center, The Morgan Library & Museum, and Newport Classical. Notable collaborations include tours with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and performances with the Jupiter Chamber Players and Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, alongside appearances with the Columbus, Knoxville, Princeton, and Seattle Symphonies.

In 2020, Anthony curated the panel discussion “Learning to Listen,” which addressed the nuances of the Black experience in classical music, and the “Illuminate!” series, exploring the intersections of allyship, ethnicity, pedagogy, queerness, and race in the music field.

As a founder of the Umoja Flute Institute, he is committed to providing flutists of African descent with the tools needed to succeed at all levels of music-making. Anthony also serves on the Aspen Music Festival and School’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee and has taught at The Juilliard School and Interlochen Center for the Arts. Upcoming highlights include performances at Clarion Concerts, BIG Arts Sanibel Island, YCA on Tour at Bethlehem Chamber Music Society, Ringwood Friends of Music, and collaborations with guitar duo, Ziggy & Miles, at the Brooks Center at Clemson University as part of the Utsey Chamber Music Series, Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, and the Terrace Theatre at The Kennedy Center. He Anthony received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the Colburn School Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of James Walker and completed his high school studies at Interlochen Arts Academy with Nancy Stagnitta. His additional teachers include Nadine Asin, Timothy Day, Megan Lanz, Emmanuel Pahud, and Mark Sparks.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants program,

a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor

and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.

Clinton County, NY, May 11, 2026  – he County of Clinton Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) is proud to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website, created to better showcase Clinton County’s economic development opportunities, strategic assets, available sites, workforce strengths, and quality of life. The new website can be viewed at: www.clintoncountyida.com

The new website, developed in partnership with Golden Shovel Agency, provides a modern, user-friendly platform designed to support business attraction, investment, site selection, and community engagement

The updated site features enhanced information on available properties, economic incentives, workforce development resources, target industries, transportation advantages, community data, and major strategic initiatives including the Clinton County Business Innovation Gateway (C-BIG) and the Bluff Point Campus redevelopment effort. Read more »

Photo provided

Plattsburgh, NY – With original bluegrass and country tunes, Missisquoi River Band from Enosburg Falls, VT paint a vivid picture of love, life and loss in the Green Mountains. Patrick Murphy, Cindy Humiston-Weed and Jim Weed – all veteran performers – promise a fun-loving, inspiring night of music. Plattsburgh United Methodist Church chapel, 127 Beekman Street in Plattsburgh NY (north entrance) this Friday 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. No admission fee, but free will donations make this live music series possible.

Contact Peter Cadieux with any questions here or at 518-569-2188. This show concludes season 11 of Wood, Wire and Voice and we will resume in October.

LINCOLN, NE (05/11/2026)– Kathryn Ku’uleilani Bowman of Peru was among a record 3,762 graduates who received degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln during commencement exercises May 8-9.

Bowman earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with high distinction from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

The graduates are from 61 countries; 45 U.S. states and the District of Columbia; and 230-plus Nebraska communities.

For the full list of May graduates, visit https://go.unl.edu/grads-may26.

Peru Gazette Note – Kathryn was Peru High School’s 2021 2022 Valedictorian.  Click here for a 2022 Peru Gazette story on Kathryn being named a high school All-American bowler.