The Peru Gazette

Capitol Confidential » State releases list of laid-off PEF titles (updated).

University of Vermont wins $20 million grant to study Lake Champlain | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports 

The Press Republican reports

The Peru Gazette is including Town Council Candidate Geoffrey Spear in our Candidate Forum. His responses to our questions arrived several days following our deadline, however, in the interest of informing the public we believe his views deserve to be heard.  We are reposting the responses received from candidates Brandy McDonald and Kregg Bruno.

Summarize your educational background, primary employment, a little about your family and community involvement.

I’m Geoffrey Spear, and I’m a candidate for the Town Council.  My family moved to Peru in 1966, and I graduated from Peru Central School in 1980.  I’m a graduate of Plattsburgh State University and have a Masters Degree in Education from Springfield College.  Over the years I’ve worked in higher education as a coach, instructor and assistant admissions director.  Presently I am Men’s Soccer Coach at Plattsburgh State.My wife Dr. Ann-Marie Boule Spear is a prominent dentist with a practice in Peru.  She and I have four children who are, or have been,  all active members in Peru School and community functions.

How will your background assist you as a town counselor?

My background as a coach at Plattsburgh State will enable me to be a productive team member with the other town board members in addressing the issues facing the town.  As a state agency employee, I’ve learned to work within a diminishing budget while dealing with increased costs and maintaining a highly productive program.

What town issues concern you the most?

A major issue in these difficult economic times is the need of the town board to control spending and still preserve the high quality of services that town residents enjoy.

How would you address this issue?

My approach will be to balance the needs of the taxpayers with revenues and to be sure we control spending.

Why should a person vote for you?

I am confident my common sense approach to decision making and my proven listening skills make me a viable candidate for town council, and I will appreciate being given the opportunity to serve the people of Peru.

1. Please summarize your education, employment, family, community involvement. 

 I graduated from Peru High School in 1993.  I am married to Amy and we have three children; Frank, Cole and Jenna. I currently work for Hynes Electric Supply.  My community involvement includes; voluntary Peru Town Youth Coach for eight years in baseball, softball and soccer, and Peru Town Youth Committee member for six years. 

2. How will your background assist you as a member of the town council ?

I believe my background in voluntary work assists me as a town counselor by giving me the opportunity to interact with many of our town residents.  Over the years, I have been able to listen to their issues and concerns that our town residents would like to be addressed by our town board.     

3. What town issues concern you the most? 4. How would you address these issues? 

My recent area of concern is the ability of our town to overcome the cost of the last harsh winter and the current destruction from the last two floods. The cost incurred by these events will take diligent effort from all of our councilmembers to adjust the budget accordingly, so that it causes the least amount of effect.

5. Why should a person vote for you? 

People should vote for me, because I have experience as a Town Board Councilman for four years and for the past two years as the Deputy Supervisor.  I am a determined councilman and strongly believe in being an active representative for everyone.  I will always strive to maintain the positive fellowship that our present councilmembers have been able to achieve.  When our council works together, it benefits our town with prosperity and the ability to keep moving forward.

1. Please summarize your education, employment, family, community involvement. 

2. How will your background assist you as a town counselor?

Kregg has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus for over 25 years, and self-employed as a general contractor for over 10 years. During those years he became well established in the Peru Community both as a coach for the Peru Youth Commission and assistant wrestling coach for Peru high school.  In November of 2009, that community elected him Town Councilman.  Before becoming an elected official Kregg actively attended many board meetings asking questions and challenging board decisions.

3. What town issues concern you the most? 4. How would you address these issues? 

Kregg has the following concerns for this upcoming budget year.  As the liaison of the water department he is adamant about improving the water system by working with the employees.  The solution is to work closely with an engineering firm to enhance the quality of the Town’s water, which will be significance for the Peru Community.  Kregg is concerned about the damages to the highways and road caused by the Spring Floods and Hurricane Irene. He plans on utilizing FEMA and funding from the Federal Government, in order to keep costs at a minimum for the Town’s people.  Lastly, the town budget is of highest priority.  This year’s budget shows a concern due to a lack of funding; therefore it will be a challenge to keep taxes at a minimum as we have in the past 2 years .

5. Why should a person vote for you? 

Re-elect Kregg Bruno because he has already proven his loyalty to the tax paying community and families of Peru, while exercising proper etiquette and making informed decisions!

Peru Central’s Board of Education launches its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 11th at 6 PM at the school district’s community room, adjacent to the main entrance of Peru High School. An executive session associated with particular matters leading to employment, collective negotiations and advice of counsel from the school attorney and a meeting of the school district’s audit committee with the external auditor pertaining to its work with the external auditor will take place immediately following the 6 PM start. The school board is slated to reconvene for public session business at approximately 7:30 PM. It’s anticipated the school board will:

• Host a public forum on the proposed annual state-mandated update to the school district’s safety plan;
• Launch discussion focused on establishing and implementing a timetable to recruit a successor Superintendent of Schools.
• Examine the 11th annual set of grade span goals for collective focus this school year in support of Board-approved 2011-2012 district goals at Peru Central.
• Adopt a budget development timetable, featuring a budget advisory committee of stakeholders and two larger-scale ‘community conversations’ for district residents.
• Receive snapshot reports on promoting parent volunteerism at each grade span.
• Attend to the full range of regular monthly personnel matters, public reporting, new business and fiscal matters as is customary at regular monthly meetings.
  

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports 

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING, October 6, 2011, 7:00 PM

1. Call Meeting To Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call

4. MOTION:     Approval of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of September 26, 2011, the Special Meeting of August 30, 2011 and the Emergency Meeting of September 6, 2011.

5. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Including Reports from all Departments into the Board Meeting Record: (Water/Sewer/Valcour: Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning Report; Supervisor’s Report; Banking Report, Enterprise report, Town Court Report, the Website Report)

6. Community Input

7. DISCUSSION:  Highway Garage Roof Engineering.

8. DISCUSSION:  Water/Sewer Projects Update.

9. DISCUSSION:  CDBG Update.

10. DISCUSSION:  Charter Cable Franchise Agreement Issues.

11. DISCUSSION:  Employee Handbook Presentation

12. DISCUSSION:  Spitfire Drive Update.

13. DISCUSSION:  Health Insurance Update.

14. Other Business

15. Community Input on Agenda Items.

Motion to Adjourn.

The Lake Placid News reports 

Stan Ransom and Tim Hartnett to Play Civil War Tunes

Stan Ransom, The Connecticut Peddler, is a folk musician who specializes in singing and playing the guitar, the hammered dulcimer, the mandolin and autoharp and six and twelve string guitars. Ransom comes from a musical family who was “always singing, playing music, and involved with choirs and singing groups.” In addition to performing, the Connecticut Peddler is also a folklorist who has done considerable research and collecting of Long Island and Northern New York State songs. His discoveries have led to the identification of tunes and songs which had been thought lost forever.

Tim Hartnett was raised in a family that loved to sing songs together. At age 11 he was inspired by his sister Seana to learn guitar, along with the popular songs of the day. Tim’s musical resume is lengthy and varied. He has appeared as a solo performer, in several duets and in numerous bands. Presently he performs with singer/songwriter Julie Canepa, the jazz/blues/pop combo PureBlue, and occasionally with the Zip City Blues Band.

Thursday, Oct. 20th @ 7:00pm

Amanda A. Palmer
Director/Curator

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website: http://www.minermuseum.org <http://www.minermuseum.org/>
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NCPR reports 

The Press Republican reports 

From the Office of Congressman Bill Owens

FORT DRUM – Congressman Bill Owens today praised provisions of the post-9/11 G.I. Bill that allow American military veterans more opportunity and choice as they pursue a higher level of education or training.  As of this month, veterans under the post-9/11 G.I. Bill can use benefits to attend non-traditional institutions as well as colleges and universities.

“With these expansions to the post-9/11 G.I. bill, we can help returning service members transition more quickly into private sector jobs while giving them every opportunity to remain in Northern and Central New York,” said Owens. “With nearly 3.2 million unfilled jobs across the country, the training provided by these benefits will help us put America’s heroes back to work.”

Effective October 1st, veterans will be eligible for post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits to cover non-college degree programs, on-the-job and apprenticeship training, flight schools, and correspondence programs. Additionally, active duty members will now receive a stipend for books and supplies, and National Guard members mobilized on or after September 11th, 2001 are now eligible for the post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Read more »

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