The Peru Gazette

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

Peru VFW Post 309 is celebrating an Oktoberfest Pig Roast on Saturday, October 2, 2010. The fun-filled event will begin at 4 p.m. and continue until the fun ends or the tap runs dry. It will feature German food along with music, dancing and 25 oz. beers.

The VFW needs and deserves the support of the entire Peru community. Let’s show this support by attending the Oktoberfest on October 2^nd.

Click image to see the entire plot plan

By John T. Ryan

Construction of four duplex apartment buildings on Davey Drive (just east of McDonald’s) should begin in a few weeks.  On Wednesday, September 15th, the Town of Peru Zoning Board approved a variance request from contractor Roy “Chuck” Bedard to construct the apartments on the 1.5 acre lot with the stipulation that construction be completed by September 1, 2011.  Bedard said he plans to construct two building this fall and the other two next spring and summer.  Bedard is purchasing the property from Harney Davey who also owns an adjacent 9.4 acre parcel. Davey told the board he has attempted to sell the property since 1999 and this is the first interest shown. He said he recently attempted to sell the property at auction, however, no bids were received.

The zoning classification of the property would have permitted Bedard to build an eight-unit building without having to apply for a zoning variance. Bedard’s representative Keith Matott told the board that his client wanted to construct buildings more in keeping with the character of the neighborhood.  Several board members praised Bedard’s plans and said that his plan is in keeping with the Comprehensive Plan which awaits adoption by the town board.  Board Chairman Leon Blair and Board member James Falvo voted against approval saying that Bedard and Davey had not satisfied the financial hardship criteria necessary for any variance. Board members Robin Bashaw, Roy Zalis, Lawrence Bosley, Donald McBrayer and Thomas Fusco voted in favor. The Planning Board had previously approved Bedard’s project.

The Post Star reports

News Release from NYSDOT received at 2:30 PM, Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will be changing the traffic pattern on I-87 in the area of Bear Swamp Road in Clinton County on September 20. Read more »

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

The Press Republican reports

File Photo

By John T. Ryan

Employee issues dominated the Monday, September 13, 2010 Peru Town Board meeting. Counselors learned that the town will likely face increased workmen’s compensation and health insurance costs in the coming fiscal year. If the town concludes a contract by October 1^st it may be able to avoid the workmen’s compensation increase, however, health insurance will probably increase in the 12 to 15% range assuming the coverage remains the same. Supervisor Peter Glushko also presented counselors with a documentation received earlier in the day from former Town Supervisor Donald Covel. Covel contends that as a retired Town of Peru employee the Town should be paying for his health insurance. Supervisor Glushko said that in 2008 the Town Board voted to stop providing health insurance to town counselors. Read more »

Judy Patnode was accompanied by her son Nathan at the polls

By John T. Ryan

As about 4:30 p.m. 205 Peru Republicans, Democrats and Conservatives had voted in today’s primary elections. Republican voters have the most important races choosing candidates for Congress and Governor. Douglas Hoffman and Matt Doheny are vying for the Congressional nomination while Carl Paladino and Rick Lazio are competing for the Gubernatorial nomination. The race for Attorney General was the only Democratic race of consequence.

Voters were using the new electronic machines for the first time and very few problems were being reported. Voters enter a privacy booth where they use a black felt-tip pen to darken a block next to their candidate of their choice. Judy Patnode of Peru said, “This is easy. I feel like I’m back in high school.” Patnode compared marking the ballot to taking the SAT exam. Lynn and Ann Wilke also said they had not experienced problems voting. After marking their ballots voters proceed to the electronic machine where they insert their paper ballot into a scanner and within a few seconds the machine reads “Vote accepted.”

Judy Patnode casts her ballot as her son Nathan looks on

The only problems some election officials could foresee could be caused by the small print size on the paper ballots. Voters with eyesight deficiencies might have a problem reading the paper ballot. If they do, the electronic machine is designed to accommodate handicapped voters. (Click here to see larger photos)

Donald McBrayer and Judy Akey explain the machine's operation

Heyworth/Mason Park has a long and interesting history that will soon be documented and displayed for the public. Volunteers are working to develop eight interpretive signs to go up in the park and along the new trail. These are the subjects of the signs, those that are complete can be viewed at: http://www.perutown.com/HMsigns.htm
1. Welcome to Heyworth/Mason Park
2. Native Americans
3. First Mill Site: gristmill and sawmill
4. Other Early Industries: woolen mill, tannery, cider mill and potato starch factory.
5. A. Mason and Sons Lumber Mill
6. Heyworth Village Apartments onwards
7. The Ausable Branch of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad
8. River Ecology
We’re trying to keep them of interest to students, especially fourth graders who will hopefully be touring the site as part of their study of New York history. The images on the signs will have the biggest impact and the suggested word count limit is 300. The signs will by 3 feet wide by 2 feet high. Sign design is by Maja Smith, funded through the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s Wayside Exhibit Program.
These signs are still in draft form, please feel free to weigh in with your comments and suggestions on any of them, either by e-mailing:
Ron Allen (perutownhistorian@charter.net) or
Adele Douglas (chinadele1@hotmail.com)
Thank you!

The Free Press reports

The Post Standard reports

The Post Standard reports

The Press Republican reports

Peru’s voters will vote from noon to 9 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3035 Main St.

NCPR reports

The adirondack almanac reports

The Times Union reports

AGENDA TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING September 13, 2010 @ 7:00 PM Read more »

The Post Standard reports

Here is the Peru Gazette’s local story on the machines published on November 10, 2008.

Click here for further information on using the machine. View as a slideshow.

Donald McBrayer

The crispness of the early autumn air can only mean one thing: It’s Applefest Time! St. Augustine’s Parish will be celebrating the 33rd annual Applefest on Saturday the 18th & Sunday the 19th at the Parish Center with a boatload of fun activities for the entire family. Read more »

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Gazette made a brief visit to the Battle of Plattsburgh celebration today. We witnessed the last few minutes of the very exciting battle reenactment which included about 170 reenactors; toured the Kent-Delord House and grounds and enjoyed the Celtic band Inisheer in front of City Hall.  The reenactment crowd was very good and many of those people walked across Cumberland Avenue to tour the Kent-Delord house. Walking along Cumberland Avenue I discovered some of the historic homes for the first time. Unfortunately, the crowd in front of City Hall was moderate at best, probably because of cloudy skies and threatening rain.  I did get a chance to take a few photos of people enjoying themselves.  If I had to guess I would say the majority of the people present were from out of town. I only recognized one other Peru resident during my ninety minute visit. (Click here for photos)

The Post Star reports

The Watertown Daily Times reports

The Press Republican reports