The Peru Gazette

EDITORIAL: Use homeland security funds wisely.

Owens to Super Committee: ‘Go big’ – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Deep in a dilemma over county home – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Conversation to focus on jobs and the economy, but open to all issues

WASHINGTON – In an ongoing effort to conduct an open discussion about the issues that affect New York, Congressman Bill Owens will hold a telephone town hall Thursday, November 3rd.  Owens will update callers about ongoing efforts to create jobs in New York and take questions from callers from 7:10 p.m. to 8:10 p.m.

“There are still many unanswered questions for those looking for jobs in New York, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to provide a forum for constituents to voice their concerns and discuss what is important to them,” said Owens. “This is another great opportunity for New Yorkers to ask me questions, share what is on their mind, or just listen to the conversation.”

A random sample of 40,000 residents in New York’s 23rd Congressional District will be chosen to participate in the conference call Thursday evening.  To request a phone call invitation, a constituent from NY-23 can email their name and number to ny23townhall@mail.house.gov or call the Congressman’s Washington office at 202-225-4611. Read more »

Adirondack Almanack: Adirondack Family Activities: 4 Adirondack Ski Swaps.

By John T. Ryan

Most Peru residents would probably agree that the hundreds of Jamaican men who come to our community from August through October are part of the fabric of our community. They harvest our apples and spend thousands of dollars in our local stores.  We see them at the Grand Union, in Stewart’s or the Dollar store each evening or on a rainy day. Nevertheless, they’re an enigma for most of us. We see them. We may say hello to them; but, few of us know them.

Forrence Orchards employed 187 Jamaican men this harvest season. While a few will remain until late December, most departed over the past two or three days. Yesterday, November 1^st, the Peru Gazette spoke to a few of the men who live in Forrence’s Mannix Road housing. They were waiting for a bus to pick them at about 4 p.m.

They all said it had been a good harvest season and they enjoyed coming to Peru. Most are family men with a wife and several children at home. They come from several Jamaican parishes and they will rarely see each other after returning home. Rudolph Darlington said he’s been coming to Peru for the last 23 years. He has three children and earns his living growing Irish potatoes on his 5 or 6 acre farm. Delroy Hanlon has six children and grows Blue Mountain coffee on his small farm. Rudolph Peddie grows ginger, yams and pimento on his small farm. He spoke proudly of his ancestors who came from Africa as slaves only to escape to the mountains and fight for Jamaica’s independence.  Another man said he is a chicken farmer while a younger man is proud of being a mason. It is always a pleasure speaking with these hard working, friendly and courteous men.

The Peru Town Board will conduct a Special Meeting on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of setting a public hearing date for the 2012 Town of Peru budget.

More retirements are expected by state workers, teachers in New York | syracuse.com.

Flynn plans to replace old, noisy seats as part of makeover | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com.

Watertown Daily Times | Owens say debit card legislation still needed.

Watertown Daily Times | Parents want antibullying task force in Watertown.

Capitol Confidential » Autism coverage bill is law.

Council presents draft strategy, seeks public input on plan at its next meeting

The North Country Regional Economic Development Council (NCREDC) announced today it will present its Draft Strategic Plan and offer the public an opportunity to comment on the summary at its next meeting Friday, November 4th at SUNY Potsdam.  The Draft Plan will be presented at 11 a.m. in the Barrington Student Union Multi-Purpose Room at SUNY Potsdam. The presentation will be followed immediately by a public comment session.  In addition, SUNY Potsdam will be webcasting this meeting beginning at 11 a.m. to allow for greater participation across the North Country region. A link to the webcast will be made available on the NCREDC’s website at www.northcountryopenforbusiness.com. Read more »

Essex County introduces tax cap override law – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Union balks at Essex County concession request – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Libby’s diner closing after two decades in Colchester | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com.

Watching a policy go up in smoke – News – The Buffalo News.

In most localities, the cap fits – Times Union.

The Brand Hollow Rd. in Peru has been a busy place since last Wednesday as dozens of families by have stopped to see the 164 pumpkins in front of John Paul and Betty Theisen Corrow’s 435 Brand Hollow Rd. home.  Thanks to pumpkin donations from Sullivan’s Pumpkin Patch and the Helping Hearts Haunted House Benefit, the Corrows had plenty of pumpkins.  The Corrow family has been been carving pumpkins for several years, but this is by far their biggest display.  Six people did the work including Betty and her husband along with their children John Paul and Megan, John Paul’s sister Jennilee and her friend Aaron Rivest. It’s not too late to stop by to see the results of all their hard work.   The pumpkins will be glowing until mid-night.

A Buffalo regional business publication called Business First ranked 431 Upstate New York high schools based on four years of New York State Education Department academic data. Peru Central did not fair too well either regionally or statewide ranking 11th out of 21 local districts and 322nd of the 431 Upstate Districts.  Peru Interim School Superintendent A. Paul Scott withheld comment without seeing the Business First study. He said only a capsule summary of the study appeared to be available online.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise interviewed the Business First Editor Jeff Wright. He emphasized that testing is not a complete indicator of a school district’s performance.  He said that it’s just one measure and that factors such as quality of life, music programs, theater and arts programs are also very important. He concluded, “It’s not just all about test scores.”

According to Business First,”The rankings reflect the collective performance of each district’s public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. The rating formula analyzed four years of data from the New York State Education Department, covering the period from 2007 through 2010, the latter being the most recent year for which a complete set of test data was available. The formula placed the greatest weight on results from the most recent academic year. Ten percent of each district’s rating was determined by the percentage of graduates who earned Regents diplomas, with special emphasis on diplomas with advanced designations. Another 50 percent was based on its high school students’ scores on Regents exams in 13 subjects: English, French, Latin, German, Spanish, integrated algebra, mathematics B (or geometry), earth science, living environment, chemistry, physics, global history and U.S. history. The final 40 percent was based on eight elementary and middle school tests: English, math and science for fourth graders, social studies for fifth graders, and the same four subjects for eighth graders.”

“Each test from each year was analyzed twice. The formula considered the percentage of students who demonstrated superior skills, as well as the percentage with basic skills.”

“Superior on a Regents exam is defined as a score of 85 or better. Basic is defined as 65 or better.”

• 1. Chazy (Clinton County)

• 2. Saranac Lake (Franklin County)

• 3. Westport (Essex County)

• 4. Lake Placid (Essex County)

• 5. Plattsburgh (Clinton County)

• 6. Ticonderoga (Essex County)

• 7. Saranac (Clinton County)

• 8. Chateaugay (Franklin County)

• 9. Elizabethtown-Lewis (Essex County)

• 10. Beekmantown (Clinton County)

• 11. Peru (Clinton County)

• 12. Tupper Lake (Franklin County)

• 13. Northeastern Clinton (Clinton County)

• 14. Saint Regis Falls (Franklin County)

• 15. Malone (Franklin County)

• 16. Ausable Valley (Clinton County)

• 17. Willsboro (Essex County)

• 18. Northern Adirondack (Clinton County)

• 19. Salmon River (Franklin County)

• 20. Brushton-Moira (Franklin County)

• 21. Moriah (Essex County)

• Click here for the full list of Upstate school district rankings.

• Click here for separate district rankings within all eight regions across Upstate New York.

• Click here for top-to-bottom subject rankings of all districts in English, math, science and social studies.

• Click here for a district-by-district database of standardized test scores.

• Click here for the complete list of National Merit Scholarship semifinalists from high schools across the state.

• Click here for the budgeted salaries for school superintendents across the state.

• And click here for an explanation of how the school ratings were done.

Budget ax threatens county fish hatchery – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Music shop moved with a little help from friends – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Enthusiastic opening for Community Store – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Nor’easter leaves thousands powerless | The Journal News | LoHud.com | LoHud.com.

Fort Edward fire fund thief gets probation.