The Peru Gazette

Lo-Hud.com reports

Mapping the U.S. Census of 2010 (Zoom in and wave your cursor over the states and counties)

The Free Press reports

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

Seth Forrence and Molly Ano inspect Cortland apples

Forrence Orchards has completed construction of its 12,000 square-foot building on the River Road and their new packing machine is operational. (Click here to see all our photos) Construction began last July and the building was completed in October. Twenty personnel were hard at work in the new building today bagging and boxing apples for shipment up and down the east coast of the United States. Seth Forrence supervises operation at this Forrence Orchard site. He said, “We’ll pack about 2,200 bushels of Cortlands today. When we get rolling we’ll be packing between 2,500 and 3,000 bushels (100,000 to 120,000 pounds) in an eight hour shift.” The Durand Wayland Corporation manufactured the packing machine in its LaGrange, Georgia plant. The machine will sort any apple variety, but it’s designed to handle larger apple varieties such as Cortland, Honeycrisp and Macoun. Most of the people working at the River Road building today usually work at Forrence’s Route 22 facility. Seth said the packing season is winding down so he would not be adding additional staff at this time. He expects to hire more personnel next fall.

Forrence’s new 160 foot long machine fills the massive 195’ x 65’ room. Crates brimming with apples are slowly immersed in water at one end of the machine. The apples quickly float to the surface and an elevator gently transports them to the sorting line. The apples then pass through buffing brushes and dryers before being inspected for flaws. Seth Forrence and Molly Ano were inspecting apples and removing undesirable apples before they entered the waxing and polishing machine. Forrence personnel remove flawed apples throughout the packing process. Seth said, “If you see many flawed apples that have been waxed and labeled, we aren’t doing our job.”

Following polishing and waxing the apples gently drop onto a conveyor and into cups where they are each weighed. Next, they pass through a labeling machine and are then conveyed for either bagging or boxing. Smaller apples drop onto a lower conveyor for transport to bagging personnel. The conveyor brings larger apples of similar weight to the appropriate carousel where personnel box them as either “Extra Fancy” or “Institutional” grade. Forrence’s typically pack between 500,000 and 600,000 bushels of apples annually. (See our story at the start of construction)

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

March 31, 2011 from A. Paul Scott, Superintendent of Schools, Peru CSD:

What is the impact of the enacted State budget on Peru CSD, July 1st forward?

The Governor’s proposed $2.62M cut in state aid for Peru CSD was reduced by five percent through Legislative deliberations, yielding a $2.49M state aid cut for Peru CSD, July 1st forward. The $130,893 of additional state aid monies is appreciated. Given this extraordinarily tough budget year, the Legislature faced very difficult choices, in order for even a modest level of state aid restoration for public education programs and services to students. The Legislative focus on doing what legislators believed was possible at this moment in time for public education is noted and appreciated at Peru Central School District.

What are some of the consequences of reduced state aid at Peru CSD, two years in a row?

The multi-year reduction of state aid to Peru CSD has resulted in larger class sizes kindergarten through 12th grade, fewer secondary grades course sections, somewhat fewer extra-curricular activities for students, reduced administrative staffing, reduced instructional staffing and reduced operations staffing for the students and community we serve. Peru CSD employees will continue to make the best of this situation, for our school community and our students.

How are reduced state aid revenues impacting on employment at Peru CSD?

The consequences of significant state aid reductions during these two most recent budget development years have impacted on all or part of forty-eight [48] positions at Peru CSD: Twenty-two [22] teaching positions, five [5] teaching assistant positions, twenty [20] support staff positions and one administrative position have been impacted across the two budget years. Some of those reductions have been realized via attrition. In some cases, positions were eliminated, and in some cases, full-time positions were reduced to part-time positions.

The Post Standard reports

Clinton County ranks near the bottom

The Times Union reports

The Adirondack Regional Theater is holding auditions  for the Broadway Play Godspell On Thursday, March 31st, Friday, April 1st and Saturday, April 2nd at the St. Augustine’s Parish Center in Peru. On March 31 and April 1 the auditions will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Saturday, April 2nd they are scheduled for 10 a.m. until noon. Performance dates are between June 30 and July 23. For more information call 643-8716.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

Peru Central’s Board of Education is slated to meet at 6 PM Monday, April 4th for a set of executive session preliminary first round interviews of particular candidates for Superintendent of Schools. A. Paul Scott, Peru Central’s veteran Superintendent of Schools, retires at the end of this school year. No public session business or school board actions are anticipated for Monday, April 4th.

In addition, the Peru Central Board of Education will launch its sixth public meeting on budget development this coming Tuesday, April 5th at 6 PM at the school district’s community room, adjacent to the main entrance of Peru High School. At the public meeting Tuesday, it’s anticipated the school board will:

• Receive updated figures associated with 2011-2012 school year state aid revenues for Peru Central School District.
• Receive at the meeting and discuss the prospective impact of a contingency budget.
• Receive at the meeting and consider an updated draft revenues plan for 2011-2012.
• Establish a proposed budget plan for 2011-2012, and authorize the school district to move ahead with formal notices and publication of necessary documents regarding the school board’s proposed budget plan. Voter consideration is slated for Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
  

As is customary practice at Peru Central, an information packet will be available to district residents who attend the school board’s April 5th public session budget development meeting. The intent of the information packet is to encourage district residents to follow along as the school board attends to key matters and topics that evening.

The Press Republican reports

The Post Star reports

The New York Times reports

The NY Post reports

The Times Union reports

The Press Republican reports – The Peru Gazette attended Mr. Scott’s press conference.   Our story will appear shortly.

We all know that our local library is a great place to appreciate art, from pottery to children’s art to photography, there’s always something to admire.  In April it will also be a great place to create art. Greg Badger, a local artist and teacher, will be offering art classes for children four weekdays after school and during the day over the Spring Break (“Green Art Week”). There is a $10 per hour charge for each class, which includes materials. Please see the art posters (weekday and weeklong) for ages, dates, times and contact information. Registration is required.

The Gibson Brothers are coming to Peru on Saturday, April 9th. They will perform at the Peru Central School with the concert beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18 if purchased in advance and $20 at the door. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Green Acres Restaurant, Peru Pharmacy,The Corner Book Store, Bob’s Music Supply, the Orchard Restaurant in Chazy, the St. Augustine’s Parish office and the Peru Community Church Fellowship Center. The concert is being co-sponsored by St. Augustine’s Parish and the Peru Community Church.

Eric and Leigh Gibson grew up and still live in nearby Ellenburg. They just recorded their 10th album and they are one of nation’s leading bluegrass groups with a number of chart-topping hits. The band’s singing and instrumentals are both outstanding. They filled the Peru Central Auditorium the last time they performed here, so be sure to arrive early. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The Press Republican reports

The Post Star reports

The Post-Star reports

The Times Union reports. Peru is in the 45th Senatorial District