Christopher Goheens

By John T. Ryan

The haunted house last Saturday at the St. Augustine’s Parish Center raised about $2,000 for the Helping Hearts for Christopher Fund. Christopher Goheens’ grandmother Jane Way said at least 300 people entered the Haunted House. She explained, “What pleased me the most was the cooperation from the entire community. The three churches (The Peru Community Church, St. Augustine’s and the Wilmington Methodist Church) worked together so well.” Christopher Goheens was born with a congenital heart defect and has been hospitalized multiple times since 1974. He is a 4^th grader at Peru Central School.

The haunted house was manned by about 100 volunteers situated throughout the twenty-one rooms and hallways. Even twenty-five players from the SUNY Plattsburgh baseball team joined in and also gave Christopher a ball cap and a sweat shirt. Christopher’s Uncle Shawn and Aunt Heather Agony were primary event organizers. Heather, like her mother Jane, was also overwhelmed by the community’s unity and support. She mentioned the church youth groups, Mrs. Crowningshield’s second grade class, the Peru Lyons Club, the Keeseville Elks Club and the St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus as groups who either directly assisted or contributed funds. She said Mrs. Crowningshield has followed Christopher ever since he was in her second grade class. Heather said, “Mrs. Crowningshield participates in heart walks and has never forgotten him.”

(Click Here for photos)

File Photo

By Donald McBrayer

The Regular Town Board Meeting was held on Monday evening, October 25th at 7 PM.
The entire board was in attendance.
A recording of the meeting can be found at:
http://d1091839.domain.com/PeruTown/TBM-10-25-2010.WAV

The Agenda contained twenty-seven Items including: Read more »

AGENDA PERU PLANNING BOARD, Wednesday, November 10th, 2010, 7:00 p.m. Peru Town Hall

Read more »

Leon Blair, Chairman of the Town of Peru Zoning Board of Appeals, called the meeting of September 15^th, 2010 to order at 7:00 pm. Read more »

NYS Department of Civil Service

The adirondack almanac reports

By John T. Ryan

Ann and Lincoln Sunderland were gracious enough to open their home and property, known as the Keese Homestead, to the general public on Friday and Saturday October 22^nd and 23^rd, 2010. The Sunderlands knew some people wanted to see their historic home. Lincoln says people often walk on the edges of their front lawn to take pictures. Lincoln, well-known locally as the author of a book entitled “Peru History,” doesn’t mind. The Sunderlands decided to charge $5.00 per adult for the tour with the proceeds going to the Peru Community Church Ladies Guild. Ann said, “I thought we might raise $100 or $200.” Well, Ann underestimated that amount just a little! Over $2,500 was collected during the two days with 164 people touring on Friday and at least 348 on Saturday. Ann and Lincoln were showing the home to as many as thirty people at a time.

The Sunderlands are the first non-Keese family to reside in the home. Richard Keese, for whom Keeseville was named, purchased one square mile of property at this location in the 1790’s. Richard and his wife and eleven children lived in a small wooden structure (later to be a hen house) that still stands behind the Sunderland’s home. Richard Keese moved to Keeseville and built a beautiful home where the Mobil gas station now stands. In 1837, Richard’s son Peter built the Sunderland’s 6,000 square foot, seventeen-room home. The Sunderlands believe that Edward Downs from Clintonville was the mason who erected the home with its three-foot thick exterior walls. The initials “ED” are carved on one side of the house and have been found on other local buildings. (Click here to see photos)

The Sunderland’s raised their three daughters in the home (Carolyn, Beverly and Jill) after purchasing it in 1974. Over the year’s they’ve made the home more comfortable for living by replacing windows and uncovering once-concealed fireplaces, refinishing flooring and painting all the interior walls. Fortunately, Ann and Lincoln have a immense respect for the home’s historical significance. Touring the home is still a lesson in 19^th century history. This past weekend Ann said that people touring the “summer kitchen” found the clothes basins and dish washing basins with its wood burning chamber underneath to be very interesting. People also appreciated the original wooden ceiling beams and beautiful fireplace in the kitchen. Others will always recall the Italian marble fireplaces in the parlors, the Redford class in the doors and a few of the windows and the original and very beautiful wooden stair railing. Richard Keese’s original home and the nearby granary and corn-crib built in the 1790’s are all in excellent condition.

Everyone fortunate enough to tour the Keese Homestead is indebted to Lincoln and Sunderland for their hospitality and their respect for one of our region’s most significant properties.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

The Adirondack Daily enterprise reports

also –

North Country reps object to Grannis’ firing

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

The Buffalo Evening News Includes a very interesting video interview with Mr. Cuomo. Like him or not, based on the polls it appears he will be our next governor.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

The Post Star reports

The Watertown Daily Times reports

The Watertown Daily Times reports

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

The Press Republican reports (The Gazette featured a report on this issue on October 15, 2010)

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING October 25, 2010 @ 7:00 PM Read more »

The Free Press reports

The Watertown Daily Times reports

The Times Union reports

The Democrat and Chronicle reports

Congressman Owens News Release

PLATTSBURGH – If anyone was wondering why Matt Doheny loves loopholes in the tax code, we have an answer: it’s because he got rich while his company used loopholes to avoid taxes in the Cayman Islands, an off shore tax haven. Read more »

AGENDA TOWN BOARD SPECIAL MEETING OCTOBER 21, 2010 @ 6:15 PM

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval for advertisement for bids for River Road water project.

5. DISCUSSION/RESOLUTION: 2011 County Snow Removal Contract

MOTION: Adjourn

By Donald McBrayer

At 9:30 this morning, while many of us were going about our business on this rainy autumn day, a gathering of our area top Republicans met at the Plattsburgh Common Council Chambers to witness the endorsement of former New York Governor George Pataki for Republican Candidate for Congress Matt Doheny.

Mr. Pataki expressed his support for Mr. Doheny saying the candidate was our best choice to reverse the Obama Health Plan, and spur growth for small business. Pataki also requested everyone visit the website www.RevereAmerica.org <http://www.RevereAmerica.org>  and sign the Petition to Repeal the Healthcare Reform Bill (found at: http://petition.revereamerica.org).

When asked about the possibility of running for President in 2012, Mr. Pataki indicated he hasn’t given it a lot of thought, but added, “Never say never!”

Also present was former 23rd District Congressional Candidate Doug Hoffman, Plattsburgh’s Mayor Don Kasprzak, and Chair of the County Legislature Jim Langley.

When asked about his own future political ambitions, Doug Hoffman stated this gathering was not about his future, but to get every Conservative and Republican behind Matt Doheny, and show united support for the Republican Candidate. He then concluded by stating that what is best for New York, and the nation as a whole is more important than his own political goals, and that is why he supports Matt Doheny for Congress.

Representation only

See Peru Central Website