The Peru Gazette

Clinton County experienced moderate growth in visitor spending in 2023, reaching $193 million, according to the latest Adirondacks Tourism Economic Impact Report. This growth is attributed to targeted marketing efforts in Canada and the county’s increasing reputation as a premier destination for professional bass fishing tournaments.

The report, released by Tourism Economics, highlights that Clinton County’s tourism success is largely driven by strategic cross-border outreach, including a substantial digital streaming campaign aimed at Canadian markets in Quebec and Ontario. With Canada as one of the county’s largest tourist segments, these initiatives have effectively increased visitor volume and spending, particularly in the lodging and food & beverage sectors, contributing $70.5 million and $53.7 million, respectively, to the local economy.

Clinton County’s reputation as a host for professional bass fishing tournaments has also played a pivotal role in boosting tourism. These events, attracting competitors and spectators from across the country, have contributed to local businesses, particularly in hospitality, dining, and retail.

Kristy Kennedy, Vice President of Marketing for the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, a division of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, credited the growth to the county’s strategic marketing push and its appeal to outdoor enthusiasts.

“This report shows the strength of Clinton County’s tourism sector, with the impressive numbers reflecting the effectiveness of our marketing and group-driven strategies,” said Kennedy. “Seeing nearly $200 million in visitor spending and strong contributions across lodging, dining, and recreation truly showcases our appeal as a destination. These numbers highlight the hard work of our entire tourism industry and reinforce that we’re on the right path for continued growth.”

Key Highlights from 2023 Clinton County Tourism Report:

• Visitor Spending: Reached $193 million in 2023
• Local Tax Collection: $12.3 million
• State Tax Collection: $10.2 million
• Lodging Sector: Contributed $70.5 million to the county’s economy
• Food & Beverage Sector: Generated $53.7 million in spending
• Seasonal Second Homes: Added $23.3 million, highlighting the economic impact of part-time residents
• Tourism Jobs: Supported 2,096 jobs in 2023

“Our Adirondack Coast team continues to do extraordinary work promoting our area,” says Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “From attracting our Canadian neighbors in large numbers once again to effective marketing to the south and from attracting and conducting eight highly successful fishing tournaments to the success of our eclipse-related efforts last spring, we are punching above our weight in drawing visitors and spending. They have mastered social media, made us the experts in Quebec outreach, and developed important niches such as biking. With our Clinton County partners’ strong support and collaboration, we can all be proud of their success, with great plans already in place for 2025. Onward and upward!”

Clinton County’s tourism success in 2023 is a testament to the ongoing collaboration between local businesses, regional partners, government entities, and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau.

The full report can be found here.

Saturday, Sept. 14

10:00 am – 01:00 pm    Exhibits in City Hall – 2nd floor – Anchor, Murals, USS Henley display Self-Guided Tour- (maps at location)   

10:00 am – 07:00 pm    Information Booth/Souvenirs – City Hall Place

10:00 am – 09:00 pm    Food Court & Exhibits – Trinity Park

10:00 am – 04:00 pm    Children’s Old Time Village Fair – Macdonough Monument grounds – Chateau Ramezay Museum Guides  from Montreal, Alice T. Miner Museum, Point Au Roche State Park Nature Study, Bookburgh Books, Journey into Reading, Face Painting 

10:00 am – 04:00 pm    Monument Challenge – Thomas Macdonough Monument (closed during the parade)

10:00 am – 04:00 pm    Kids’ Games – City Hall lawn (Kids’  Muster & Parade starts at 12:00 pm)

10:00 am – 04:00 pm    Museums – Downtown & Old Base Museum Campus & Chazy

10:00 am – 04:00 pm    Old Post Cemetery – Self-Guided Tour- (maps at location)

10:00 am – 04:00 pm    Champlain Valley Amateur Radio-Trinity Park

10:00 am– 12:00 pm     History Talks – Trinity Church across from Trinity Park-THREE (3) Thirty-minute talks w/Q&A. Topics: CAPTAIN DOWNIE, THE CONFIANCE ANCHOR, BENJAMIN MOOERS

10:30 am                       Sailing Masters of 1812 – In front of Macdonough Monument 

11:00 am                        Celebrity Bed Race Regatta – City Hall Place & Lower Court St     

11:30 am                        English Tea -Trinity Church

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm    Kids Muster & Parade – City Hall Place

12:30 pm – 01:00 pm    Entertainment- In Front of City Hall – Champlain Valley Irish Dance 

01:00 pm – 02:30 pm    Parade – Theme “Ships, Boats & Buggies” Cumberland Ave, City Hall Place to Durkee Street

02:00 pm – 09:00 pm    “The Tavern” – Enjoy an Adult Beverage Trinity Park tent

02:30 pm – 03:00 pm    Entertainment- In Front of City Hall, Norwood Brass Firemen’s Band

03:00 pm – 03:30 pm    Beat Retreat – Bands play in front of City Hall

03:30 pm – 05:30 pm    Music/Entertainment –Trinity Park – Zip City       

03:30 pm                        English Tea -Trinity Church

07:00 pm – 10:00 pm    Macomb Ball, English Country Dancing – Trinity Park – Israel Green’s Place. No dancing experience is necessary. (Event button required for dancers.)

07:00 pm – 09:00 pm    Concert- “Broken Hearted” – Tom Petty Tribute Strand Theatre, Brinkerhoff Street, Plattsburgh FREE ADMISSION with your Event Button

Sunday, September 15, 2024

10:00 am – 04:00 pm    Museums — Downtown & Old Base Museum Campus & Chazy

10:00 am – 04:00 pm    Old Post Cemetery – Self-Guided Tour- (maps at location)

10:00 am – 10:45 am    Tour Chazy New York In1812 – start at Alice T. Miner Museum 

10:50 am                        Bagpipes- In Trinity Park to open the Day’s Events

11:00 am – 12:00 pm    Music/Entertainment – Trinity Park- Israel Green’s Place. US Army Band 10th Mountain Division

11:00 am – 01:00 pm    Champlain Valley Irish Dance Workshop City Hall Stage

11:00 am – 03:00 pm    1814 Reenactor Encampment 19th Century Trades & Military Equipment Demonstrations – Kent Delord House

11:00 am – 03:00 pm    Information Booth/Souvenirs –  City Hall Place

11:00 am – 03:00 pm    North Country Classic Cars – Lower City Hall Place  

11:00 am – 03:00 pm    Food Court & Exhibits – Trinity Park

11:00 am – 03:00 pm    Children’s Old Time Village Fair  – Macdonough Monument grounds – Chateau Ramezay Museum Guides     from Montreal, Alice T. Miner Museum, Point Au Roche State Park Nature Study, Bookburgh Books, Journey into Reading, Face Painting 

11:00 am – 03:00 pm    Monument Challenge – Thomas Macdonough Monument

11:00 am – 03:00 pm    Kids’ Games – City Hall lawn (Kids’  Muster & Parade starts at 12:00 pm)

12:00 pm – 02:00 pm    Exhibits in City Hall – 2nd floor – Anchor, Murals, USS Henley display Self-Guided Tour- (maps at location)  

01:00 pm – 01:30 pm    Plucky Rooster Crowing Contest – City Hall Stage (Prizes courtesy of Champlain Centre Mall)

01:00 pm – 03:00 pm    Music and Entertainment – Trinity Park- Barb Heller & Gretchen Kohler

01:00 pm – 03:00 pm    Plucky Rooster Exhibit- Old Time Village Fair        

02:00 pm – 03:00 pm    Fire Engine Pull – City Hall Place

03:00 pm                        50/50 Raffle Winner Drawing

Click here for the Adirondack Story 

Elizabeth has taken a job as a news editor at the Albany Times Union 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

By John T Ryan

Peru, NY –  A person familiar to hundreds of Peru and area residents will soon depart from the institution she’s led for the past 21 1/2 years. Becky Pace,  Director of the Peru Free Library, is retiring effective September 25, 2024. Becky considered retiring last spring, but she delayed for a few months. She commented, “I wanted to leave the library when it’s as good as I can take it. We needed to build back after the pandemic, and we did it. We’ve had a lot of new families join. More people are coming in now than there’s ever been.”

The Library’s Board of Directors posted a statement online that read in part, “Under Becky’s leadership, solar panels were installed on the roof, professional theatre, storytellers and musicians performed for the children of Peru, art shows were curated that featured local artists; thousands of dollars were raised for the library through various fundraising events, and so much more.”

Becky is proud of those accomplishments but measures her success by how many people enter the library or order books online. During the course of our interview, she commented several times, “I’ve done things, yes, but it’s the people.”  Later, she stated, “Our library tagline is ‘It feels like home.’ The library is a haven. It’s comfortable. We provide space for people.”  We sat in comfortable Queen Anne chairs in the library’s spacious front room for this interview. Nearby, two patrons were viewing paintings that were part of an ongoing art show. They purchased one of the paintings; a portion of their payment will go to the library.

Fundraising is one of a library director’s many responsibilities, accounting for about one-third of the library’s income. Becky successfully applied for grants to fund art and theatrical shows and building upgrades.  A $52,000 grant funded the solar panels on the library’s roof. Some of her other duties include advocating for the library, developing new programs, working with the volunteers whom the library relies on, reading book reviews, ordering books that she believes will appeal to patrons, and interacting with anyone doing business with the library. Chores like cleaning the bathroom and caring for the garbage also fall in her purview. 

What has she liked most about her job? Becky responded, “You never know who will walk through the door. I’ve had some wonderful conversations with people.”  Becky is an empathetic listener, always striving to serve the patrons. As Becky said repeatedly, “It’s about the people.”

Stacey Bousquet, who has been assistant library director for the past eight years, will be the new library director. Becky recommended her for the position. That’s another reason for Becky’s retirement; she’s confident the library will be in good hands.

Becky Pace doesn’t plan to leave Peru. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, she said, “I will be doing dedicated art studio time.” Patrons will undoubtedly hope that Becky’s artwork will be featured in an art show at the Peru Free Library.

BEE Award Nikki Catlin (L) and Nicole Reil

Nikki Catlin Honored for Care Provided to Elderly Patient 

PLATTSBURGH, NY – A meal shared together fills the soul as much as the stomach, and that’s exactly what Nikki Catlin enjoyed with one of her patients.

The kindness and care she provided to a 92-year-old man in need is why she was honored this week with the BEE (Beyond Exceptional Everyday) Award. Catlin was recognized during a surprise ceremony with her colleagues at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH).

She was nominated by Nicole Reil, RN, one of her colleagues who works in the CVPH Heart Center. Reil explains in her nomination that the 92-year-old gentleman comes to the hospital multiple times a month. And he can be difficult to understand, as he speaks with a thick accent.

“Nikki always jumps in to help him,” Reil writes. “It took a while to figure out what he needed. This time, she found out he had not been eating because his teeth hurt.”

Catlin immediately acted, going to the hospital cafeteria to buy soup, a soft sandwich and a drink for the patient for lunch. She sat with him in the breakroom and made sure he ate what he could. And Reil says after Catlin and the staff worked to make sure the elderly patient could receive the additional care he needed, she took him out to his car at his request.

“Nikki went above and beyond to make sure this man was cared for,” Reil adds.

Rebecca Duquette, Practice Supervisor for Interventional Cardiology at CVPH, notes that Catlin previously helped this patient get heat restored to his home and find money that he lost.

“No matter what a patient needs, if Nikki can do anything to help, she will go out of her way and find answers,” Duquette says. “Nikki is truly a very kind person and has a huge heart! She took very good care of this patient, and that is how she is with all of them.”

During the award presentation, Catlin was presented with a certificate commending him for his extraordinary work. She, like all honorees, also received a BEE Award pin, a beautiful and meaningful sculpture and a basket filled with bee-themed gifts.

All CVPH employees who support patient care by working together with physicians and registered nurses to improve the physical, emotional and spiritual health of patients and their loved ones are eligible for the BEE Award. Nomination forms and boxes are located at each of the hospital’s main entrances and on the CVPH website. Support staff may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. A committee reviews nominations and awards a deserving employee each quarter.

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Spaghetti

Salad

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!

Eligible New Yorkers can get vaccinated at any pharmacy without a prescription

Click here for the Sun Community News story

Food/baby item collection date: Oct. 11 at the Strand

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Regular Monthly Meeting September 2024

The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the High School Community Room. It is anticipated that an executive session will take place immediately following the 6:30 PM start, and that the Board will reconvene for open public session business at approximately 7:00 PM. The meeting will be recorded and will be available on the District’s website at www.perucsd.org.

The meeting is open to the public and current District, County, State and Federal safety procedures and protocols will be followed.

Currently, two (2) public comment opportunities are planned as follows:

First public comment:  Related to items on the agenda.  Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker.

Second public comment:  Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker.

Individuals who are unable to attend the regular meeting in person may submit public comments by emailing perucomments@perucsd.org no later than 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, September 10^th.  Online comments are also subject to the conditions stated above.

Anticipated topics include:

• Contracts for Special Education Services
• Personnel Actions
• Academic Calendar

The complete agenda will be available via BoardDocs on the District’s website (perucsd.org).

The Board is also scheduled to convene prior to the meeting for a brief retreat, for the purpose of gaining education and training.

Click here for the WCAX3 story 

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call 

4. 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);

5. MOTION:  Acceptance of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of August 26, 2024.

6. Community Input. 

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: RFQ for Engineering Service for the WWTP Upgrade Project.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Reappointment of Deborah Witherwax to the Board of Assessment Review.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approval of Daniel Spada, Environmental Consultant for the Wescott Road Culvert Replacement Project for Wetland Delineation Services.

10. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Machabee Land Surveying for the Wescott Road Culvert Replacement Project for Topographical Survey.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Resolution to Pass Local Law to Exceed Tax Cap.

12. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Set Date for Special Meeting to Present Tentative Budget Oct. 3 

13. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Set Date for Public Hearing on Preliminary Budget Nov. 4.

14. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Set Date for Special Meeting to Adopt Final Budget Nov. 14.

15. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Use of Heyworth-Mason Park for the Clinton County Youth Bureau Trick or Trot Fun Run.

16. DISCUSSION:  Other Business.

17. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

18. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay August/September 2024 Bills.

19. MOTION:  Adjourn to Executive Session.

20. MOTION:  Return from Executive Session. 

21. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION:       To Open the Public Hearing.

5. DISCUSSION:  PROPOSED Local Law#1 of 2024 – “A Local Law to override the tax levy limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c.

6. MOTION:      To Close the Public Hearing.

7. MOTION:        Adjourn