The Peru Gazette

At a Board of Regents meeting last Monday, state officials proposed eliminating credit-based diploma requirements.

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The Effort Brings Together Leaders from Government, Business, Sports and Community Organizations to Assess the Potential of Bringing the Olympic Flame Back to New York State

Albany, June 22, 2026 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the formation of the Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee, a statewide effort tasked with evaluating the feasibility of a future Winter Games concept linking Lake Placid’s Olympic legacy with New York City’s global platform. The committee will assess whether a modern, regionally coordinated Winter Games model-built around existing venues, sustainability, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement could support the State’s broader economic, tourism, infrastructure, and regional development goals.

“The time is now to return the Olympic flame back to New York,” Governor Hochul said. “Milano Cortina showcased the immense possibility that comes with a dual city Olympic Games. It’s clear we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build on Lake Placid’s Olympic legacy, New York City’s global platform, and the strengths that make our State unique. That’s why I’ve assembled some of the best and the brightest in sports, government and community leadership to take the steps necessary to ensure New York is in the best possible position to make the dream of a Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games a reality.”

About the Exploratory Committee Read more »

John Bingham, US Navy, 1961-1969, Vietnam

John felt a duty to serve, following the example of two uncles—one an admiral and the other a physician who served in Korea.

Originally hoping to become a submariner, he was unable to pass the pressure test required for submarine training. Instead, he attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, later spending a year in graduate studies focused on defense intelligence and Arabic in preparation for a diplomatic assignment.

For two years, John served aboard an ocean-going minesweeper, a non-magnetic warship designed to locate and destroy naval mines in deep waters. He described it as “a wooden ship with iron men,” where every piece of iron had to be carefully tracked.

His final assignment in 1968 involved intelligence operations in the Mediterranean, monitoring Soviet naval activity. He also carried the disappointment of being unable to reach the USS Pueblo before its capture. Awarded the Naval Commendation Medal, John reflects that warfare is awful and demands immense sacrifice. 

Asked if he would serve again, his answer is simple: “Yes—but I’d do it better.”

Bernard Gwinn, US Navy, 1971-1977, Vietnam

Bernie’s father was in the US Navy, one uncle was in the US Marines and two uncles were in the US Army. In April of 1971, Bernie was in the early enlistment program. For the first two year of his marriage, he was gone 15 out of 24 months.

Bernie was a hull technician (ship fitter) and damage control man, being responsible for the watertight integrity of the ship. In 1972, Bernie was assigned to the USS Edward McDonnell and was one of five hull technicians on the ship. He was on the ship for 3 years and was only sick once as he knew what not to eat!

Bernie wanted to retire from the military so after two years of inactive service with the Navy, he joined the Army. In Fort Drumm, Watertown, he was a heavy vehicle operator, drove a deuce and a half and got supplies and rations for the field.

One of Bernie’s best memories was when he crossed the artic ocean and got his “blue nose”. During that US Navy artic cruise, he got to go on a Dutch ship and eat their food and drink their beer. Read more »

C. Edward Bombard Jr., US Army, 1960-63, Cold War

After basic and clerk-typist training at Fort Dix, Ed trained at Fort Eustis, Virginia, as a Transportation Movement Specialist, coordinating the movement of military vehicles. He was later deployed to North Africa with the 3rd Army, serving in a small unit that oversaw port operations for the Libyan government. Although the unit included ten officers, Ed recalls that the enlisted men handled most of the day-to-day work.

At just 20 years old, Ed earned a rapid promotion to E-5 after stepping in as chief of operations during another soldier’s medical leave. During his 25 months of service, he valued both the responsibility and the opportunity to travel aboard C-130 flights to France, Germany, and England.

Looking back, Ed says he would enlist again without hesitation, calling military service a rewarding experience that taught him responsibility and maturity at a young age.

Richard Brosseau, US Navy, 1966-1970, Vietnam

Richard joined the U.S. Navy through the delayed enlistment program while working construction in Vermont. Service ran in his family—his father served in World War II, and his brother was also in the Navy.

He trained in Pensacola, Florida, where he became a plane captain, responsible for inspecting propeller aircraft and ensuring they were ready for flight. Later, in Oceana at Virginia Beach, he worked on F-4 Phantom jets, maintaining those same high standards.

Richard spent three months aboard the USS Independence, including a stop in London, where he took part in performances held for the Queen. He later completed a nine-month European cruise, spending 40 days at sea before sighting land.

During carrier war games, lights went dark as opposing aircraft searched for them—if found, 100-pound bags of flour hitting the deck meant they’d been “hit.” Richard valued his Navy service and the opportunity to see the world. Read more »

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6:00 PM

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of June 8, 2026 and Special Meeting of June 15, 2026. 

5. Community Input. 

6. DISCUSSION:   

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approve Work Change Directive No: GC-CD.07 from Murnane Bldg. Contractors.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approve Work Change Directive No: M-CD.02 from K & L Plumbing & Heating Inc. 

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approve Work Change Directive No: E-CD.02 Triangle Electrical Systems, Inc.

10.   RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approve Sales Contract with INQUIK Bridge Systems for Wescott Rd. Bridge Replacement Project.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approve Proposal with The Precision Group for CIPP Lining for Two 30” Culverts on Laphams Mills Rd.

12. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval to Hire a Part Time Seasonal Employee Water/Sewer/Parks.  

13. DISCUSSION: C & S Companies Project Status Report for Replacement of Telegraph Road over Dry Mill Brook.

14. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Money Transfer from Water Debt Service to Pay H34 Water Project Bill.

15. DISCUSSION: Other Business. – Councilmen

16. DISCUSSION: Other Business. – Dept. Heads 

17. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

18. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay Bills – June 2026

19. MOTION:  Adjourn to Executive Session.

20. MOTION:  Return from Executive Session. 

21. MOTION:  Adjourn Meeting.

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Includes multiple Adirondack rescues

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.

Iamlet of Pine Plains

Dutchess County
Wildland Fire: On June 5 at 1:30 p.m., Forest Rangers Grillo and Pries responded to a 911 radio call about a brush fire on Shultz Hill Road. When Rangers arrived, they observed the fire spreading in a field of grasses and scrubs. Rangers worked with Amenia, Milan, Millerton, and Pine Plains Fire Departments on the suppression efforts. By 3:45 p.m., firefighters contained the 0.5-acre fire.

Pine Plains fire

Town of North Hudson
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 8 at 9:46 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County about a 911 text for an ill hiker on the Lillian Brook trail in the Dix Mountain Wilderness. At approximately 1:30 a.m., Rangers and a Paramedic from Schroon Lake EMS reached the 52-year-old from Potsdam. Rangers determined the hiker could not continue on their own. The Paramedic provided IV fluids and then Rangers carried the subject to the Elk Lake trailhead where they were met by a Schroon Lake Ambulance. Resources were clear at 5:40 a.m.

City of Albany
Albany County
Prescribed Fire: On June 9, A Forest Ranger joined staff from the DEC’s Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests, and Albany Pine Bush to conduct a controlled burn of 29 acres at the Albany Pine Bush.

Prescribed fire is an important land management tool used to improve habitat for lands and wildlife. These burns are regulated by law and regulation and require technical expertise to safely conduct. Controlled burns help prevent the spread of invasive species, and in some areas, prescribed fire is used to reduce the buildup of wood, timber litter, and other fuel to reduce the potential for wildfires that threaten public safety and critical infrastructure. DEC carefully and responsibly implements prescribed fires only when conditions are favorable to meet land management goals.

Albany Pine Bush prescribed burn

Burn Boss Briggs at Albany Pine Bush prescribed burn

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 9 at 4:04 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a member of the Student Conservation Association about one of their members having a seizure while doing trail work in Avalanche Pass. Forest Ranger Odell spoke to the trail crew’s supervisor who said the 23-year-old from Pennsylvania had epilepsy that could be affected by exertion in the hot weather. New York State Police Pilot Sergeant Beck flew Rangers Bowler and Martin to the subject. They loaded the subject into the helicopter, and Sergeant Beck flew them to Adirondack Medical Center. Resources were clear at 6:11 p.m.  Read more »

Peru Gazette 2019 file photo

LAKE PLACID NY (June 16, 2026) – The Lake Placid and I Love NY Horse Shows are returning to the North Elba Show Grounds for the 57th time this summer, bringing nearly 1,000 horses and their riders to the Adirondacks. The equestrian competitions will take place over two weeks, between June 23 and July 5, with more than $700,000 in prize money awarded.

The Lake Placid Horse Show (LPHS) takes place from June 23 – 28, beginning at 8:00 a.m. each day. The event will feature two weeks of Olympic-level equestrian competition. The I Love NY Horse Show is scheduled to take place from June 30 – July 5, also beginning at 8:00 a.m.; ending at approximately 5:00 p.m. each day. There will be no competition on June 29.

Tickets to the events may be purchased at the gate. Admission is as follows: free admission on Tuesdays; Wednesday – Friday $8, Saturday – Sunday  $12. Veterans receive a 50% discount.

Children 12 and under receive free admission when accompanied by a paying adult. Organizers are hosting “Community Appreciation Day sponsored by Uihlein Foundation” on Saturday, June 27 with free admission for local residents, a dog costume contest, and other family activities. Read more »

About 400,000 New Yorkers will lose health care coverage on July 

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This weekend is Juneteenth (June 19–21), and Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz is proud to be partnering with the Colors of Freedom Committee North Star Underground Railroad Museum, John Brown Lives!, the Clinton County Historical Association, SUNY Plattsburgh, Paul Smith’s College, and the Plattsburgh Public Library as part of the community events to commemorate this important weekend in our community.

Because blues and gospel music are deeply connected to the story of freedom and the roots of American music, we’re presenting a special Juneteenth Concert on Friday, June 19, featuring Harlem blues and soul artist Solomon Hicks, and we added the outstanding Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir to open up the evening.

The concert runs from 7:00 to 9:30 PM at Retro Live, which will be transformed into a live music club complete with tables, seating, and a dance floor. Advance tickets are just $20 and are available at: https://sevendaystickets.ticketsauce.com/e/juneteenth-concert-with-king-solomon-hicks and 25 at the door.

The Juneteenth celebration continues throughout the weekend.
On Saturday at 10:00 AM, the Colors of Freedom Committee will host a free Underground Railroad bus tour beginning at the North Star Underground Railroad Museum in Keeseville. From 1:00 to 3:00 PM, the Plattsburgh Public Library will host a Juneteenth film screening. Then from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, the SUNY Plattsburgh Museum Gallery will present “What Remains: Voices from the Margins of History,” followed by a free acoustic performance by Solomon Hicks.

On Sunday, June 21, the weekend concludes with a community picnic and celebration at John Brown Farm from noon to 2:30 PM, featuring John Brown’s final speech, praise dancers, live music, and more.

Join us for this weekend of history, culture, community, and music

Peru Gazette 2014 Parent Rd. File Photo

New Incentive for Hunters Established with Statewide Earn-a-2nd-Buck System

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced several changes to deer hunting regulations to increase harvest of antlerless (primarily female) deer and improve DEC’s ability to manage abundant deer populations.

“Deer populations are growing across much of New York and, in many areas, are increasing to levels that are detrimental to deer, their habitat, and the public,” Commissioner Lefton said. “These regulatory changes are a result of robust public engagement and reflect DEC’s continued commitment to conservation.”

DEC is adopting several changes to increase opportunity for hunters to access and utilize Deer Management Permits (DMPs, antlerless deer tags) where most needed, including:

• Adding 10 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs; 3P, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8H, 8R, 8S, and 9G) to the nine-day season for antlerless deer in mid-September.
• Designating 23 WMUs as having no DMP quota. Hunters who harvest and report an antlerless deer using a DMP in a WMU with no DMP quota would be eligible to have the DMP automatically replaced. For 2026, WMUs 1C, 3M, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4J, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F, and 9G will have no DMP quota.
• Modifying the DMP application process by allowing hunters to apply for up to 4 DMPs: 2 in WMUs with a quota and 2 DMPs in WMUs with no quota.
• Allowing unlimited transfer of DMPs between hunters.

DEC is creating an incentive for hunters to harvest antlerless deer by establishing a statewide Earn-a-2nd-Buck System. Under the new system, all hunters will receive a first Antlered Deer Tag which can be used during any season (with appropriate privileges) except the September antlerless season. Hunters who harvest and report an antlerless deer using a DMP, Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag, or Deer Management Assistance Program Tag will be eligible to receive a second Antlered Deer Tag, which can also be used during those same seasons.

To facilitate the new Earn-a-2nd-Buck System, DEC is reclassifying the former Regular Season Deer Tag as an Antlered Deer Tag and the former Bow/Muzzleloader Either-Sex Deer Tag as a Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag. Hunters who purchase bowhunting and muzzleloading privileges would receive a Bow/Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Tag for each privilege.

The changes were first proposed by DEC based on input from New York deer hunters and professional deer managers across the Northeast through focus groups and surveys administered by DEC. Additionally, DEC reviewed more than 1,000 public comments on the regulatory proposal announced in March 2026, many of which recognized the need to increase antlerless harvest to mitigate negative deer impacts to ecosystems and the public. The public also expressed concern over the potential for overharvest of deer in some areas and encouraged DEC to implement methods to validate the antlerless deer harvested under the Earn-a-2nd-Buck System.

DEC closely monitors harvest success and has processes in place to reduce antlerless harvest should the new regulations be more successful than anticipated. DEC will also establish safeguards to minimize risk by monitoring fraudulent harvest reports. DEC will require report attestations, conduct law enforcement field checks, and require hunters to provide proof of their antlerless deer harvest within seven days if requested by DEC. Proof may include a photograph, the deer’s head, or contact information for where the deer was processed.

DEC strives to manage deer populations at levels that are in balance with available habitat and in alignment with public desires by encouraging and empowering hunters to harvest antlerless deer, the primary component of the deer population that drives population growth. DEC assesses public desires for deer population size and deer impacts to forests to determine deer population objectives for each area of the state. Refer to DEC’s Management Plan for White-Tailed Deer in New York State for more information.

The full text of the adopted regulation Read more »

Franklin County, home to the most dairy farms in the state, has now lost roughly 600 jobs at dairy-related plants over the past year

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More than 180 students earn President’s and Dean’s List recognition

• Grant L. Atkinson, Plattsburgh, NY
• Katherine D. Barros, Plattsburgh, NY
• Lisa J. Burgess, Plattsburgh, NY
• Morgan L. Changelo, Au Sable Forks, NY
• Mercadia V. Clark, Plattsburgh, NY
• Hayden C. Clay, Chazy, NY
• Austin M. Dubrey, West Chazy, NY
• Connor J. Duda, Plattsburgh, NY
• Madailynn R. Fennessy, Ogdensburg, NY
• Charles P. Garvey, Peru, NY
• Brittany L. Geppner, West Chazy, NY
• Henry J. Gibson, Westport, NY
• Kaleb A. Guay, West Chazy, NY
• Brett Herrick, North Hudson, NY
• Aiden P. Hilferty, Rouses Point, NY
• Patrick O. King, Keeseville, NY
• Sable D. LaBounty, Peru, NY
• Macey J. LaMora, Plattsburgh, NY
• Vanessa J. Lawyer, Plattsburgh, NY
• Michael C. LeBeau, Morrisonville, NY
• Ember L., Plattsburgh, NY
• Hayden L. Lozier, Peru, NY
• Kristen M. Lushia, Keeseville, NY
• Cedric Mailloux, Plattsburgh, NY
• Sandra L. Martin, Plattsburgh, NY
• Elizabeth M. Medley, Saranac, NY
• Nolan S. Miner, Morrisonville, NY
• Emily J. Morin, Richmond, VT
• Mathew R. Patterson, Churubusco, NY
• John Ramalhete, Hadley, NY
• Kyle R. Reif, Ellenburg Depot, NY
• Aaron M. Rock, Morrisonville, NY
• Cassidy M. Romeo, Vermontville, NY
• Sean R. Rose, Peru, NY
• Cory M. Ryan, Plattsburgh, NY
• Nicole L. Smith, Plattsburgh, NY
• Tyler R. Smith, Plattsburgh, NY
• Liam Snyder, Keeseville, NY
• Quinn E. Stebbins, Chazy, NY
• Joseph L. Sweeney, Plattsburgh, NY
• Travis C. Weeden, Sidney, NY
• Ashley Wright, Deer Park, NY

Read more »

Peru Gazette 2025 file photo

PLATTSBURGH, NY, June 17, 2026  – North Country Honor Flight continues this Saturday, June 20, with Flights 70 and 71, carrying 28 North Country veterans on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.

This mission will honor 27 Vietnam War veterans and one Korean War veteran from communities across northern New York and Vermont. The day will begin at 7 a.m. with a send-off ceremony at the US Oval in Plattsburgh, where family members, friends, and supporters will gather to wish these heroes well as they embark on their journey.

North Country Honor Flight is proud to recognize Harmony Golf Course as the sponsor of this mission. Harmony has been a dedicated supporter of the organization for many years, raising funds through its annual golf tournament to help ensure veterans can participate in these meaningful flights at no cost to them.

The 2026 Harmony Golf Tournament will be held on July 11. The event once again features two sold-out flights, such a tremendous show of support shown by golfers, sponsors, and the community year after year. While team registrations are full, sponsorships and donations are still being accepted to help make this year’s tournament the most successful yet.

“Thank you to Harmony Golf Course and everyone involved in making this event such a tremendous success. Their continued commitment to our mission allows us to honor more veterans and ensure they receive the recognition they so richly deserve.” Jerika Manning, Executive Officer

North Country Honor Flight is a 100 percent volunteer-led nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring America’s veterans by providing them with free, first-class trips to Washington, D.C. Since its founding, the organization has remained committed to ensuring that every veteran has the opportunity to experience the memorials built in their honor.

We look forward to once again seeing the community come together on Saturday to celebrate and thank these North Country veterans for their service and sacrifice.

For more information about North Country Honor Flight, upcoming missions, or ways to support the organization, please visit www.northcountryhonorflight.org.