The Peru Gazette

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Communication from Congressman Bill Owens

I am pleased to announce that my office is accepting applications for appointments to our nation’s Service Academies.  If you, your son, or your daughter are between 17 and 23 years old, a U.S. citizen, unmarried, are without legal obligation to support children, and reside within the boundaries of New York’s 23rd Congressional District, then I encourage you to consider the Services Academies as an option for higher education.

To apply for nomination through my office, please visit my website and download an application form or call my Watertown District office at 315-782-3150.  The deadline for submission is November 1, 2010. This web page has all the information you need and provides a link to the application form.

The Tax Foundation released an analysis this week of property taxes in 792 United States counties. Clinton County ranks 62nd from the top for property taxes as a percentage of home values and 253rd in the amount of property taxes paid. Nine of the top ten counties for property taxes as a percentage of home value were in New York State.

File Photo

By Donald McBrayer

The Peru Town Board held its regular meeting at 7:00 PM on Monday, September 27, 2010. Everyone, except Town Clerk Kathy Flynn who was excused, was in attendance. An audio recording of the meeting can be found at:
http://d1091839.domain.com/PeruTown/TBM-09-27-10.WAV

The Agenda contained 22 items including:

• Approval of Minutes for the September 18th Regular Meeting. The minutes can be viewed at: http://d1091839.domain.com/PeruTown/min10/09-13-2010-RM.pdf

• Approving three budgetary fund transfers totaling $10,182.50 for Water/Sewer transmission and payroll overages.

• Approval of the Water/Sewer Relevy List. Water/Sewer bills in arrear over the past 3 years will be passed onto the property owner’s property tax bill.  Current total past due amounts that will be passed to the tax levy is $36,354.81. Peru’s Water/Sewer Superintendent, Greg Timmons informed the Board this is a fairly consistent balance for unpaid water bills.

• Tabled a Motion to approve a bid for the Town Hall fire/security system. The Board received only one quote, when two are required. A Resolution will be prepared for the next Regular Meeting to accept the bid.

• Scheduled a Special Meeting for Monday, October 4 at 6:30 PM for the 2011 Tentative Budget Submission.

• Passed a Motion to purchase workman’s compensation insurance for 2011 through Lovell Safety Group instead of PERMA, the town’s current workman’s comp provider. Both carriers offer comparable coverage and services. A $13,000 price difference spurred the Board to go in the new direction for the coming year. Concerns were expressed as to possible administration hassles with Lovell, and wrapping up current comp cases with PERMA before discontinuing with their service. Town Attorney Don Biggs stated he would be willing to write letters to either carrier on behalf of the town to expedite any possible lags in administrative obligations.

• Received a $24,000 Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund (LGRMIF) Grant.  More information on this grant can be found at: http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/grants/grants_lgrmif_faq.shtml

• Announced a Flu-shot Clinic that is scheduled at the Peru VFW on November 23rd from 1-4PM.

The Meeting was adjourned at 8:55PM.

Congressman Owens Press Release

Plattsburgh, NY – Last week, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) endorsed Bill Owens in his re-election campaign for U.S. Congress.  Boasting a membership of nearly four million members, Owens was endorsed based on his “solid pro-gun voting record in Congress.” Read more »

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AGENDA PERU PLANNING BOARD, Wednesday, October 13^th, 2010, 7:00 p.m., Peru Town Hall Read more »

Richard Williams, Chair of the Town of Peru Planning Board, called the meeting of Wednesday, August 11^th, 2010 at 7:00pm, to order. Read more »

Richard Williams, Chair of the Town of Peru Planning Board, called the meeting of Wednesday, July 14^th, 2010 at 7:00pm, to order. Read more »

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The Free Press reports   The story of a fine young man!

Updated 10/3/10 The Free Press Reports Swanton Salutes its fallen Marine

Garrett, Shelby and Collin Brown enjoy museum's "Rocking Holsteins"

By John T. Ryan

Many people are undoubtedly asking, “How are things going at the Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum?” Rick Laurin, the museum curator says, “It’s been going great. We’ve had 1,500 people go through since our June 12^th Grand Opening.” Laurin says people enjoy many aspects of the museum. The machine demonstrations are popular. Children particularly enjoy being able to touch things such as the many tractors. The two horses and three miniature donkeys are also great favorites. When this reporter visited the museum on Thursday, September 23^rd Mr. and Mrs. Dwane Waterman of Peru were visiting with their three great grandchildren. Where else could Shelby, Garrett and Collin Brown from Schaghticoke, NY get to ride a rocking holstein? The Waterman’s were being guided through the museum by local historian and volunteer Lincoln Sunderland.

The museum has planned several activities during the immediate future. On September 30^th at 10:30 a.m. two busloads of the Clinton County Senior Citizens group will arrive for a tour and to enjoy lunch. Everyone is invited to enjoy the museum along with the seniors.

A Family Fun-Harvest Weekend will be held on October 16^th and 17^th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Many special events will be held. On Saturday, Mary Dimock will lead a quilting bee and demonstration. The museum’s full array of farm machines will be operating. Visitors will be able to observe corn binding, oat thrashing, hay pressing, shingle milling, corn milling and chopping. The interesting hit and miss engines will be running. Children can take rides in a wagon pulled by a team of miniature horses and can participate in pumpkin carving and face painting.

Saturday, October 30^th will be another day of family fun when the museum hosts an adult and children’s costume party. There will be costume prizes and children will enjoy bobbing for apples and face painting. Following the costume party the museum will close for the 2010 season.

Congressman Owens Press Release

Thursday’s vote supported by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congressman Bill Owens voted in favor of The Small Business Jobs Act, H.R. 5297, a bill that provides tax cuts for the middle class and spurs economic development in Upstate New York.  The legislation, which is backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, passed the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday by a vote of 237-187. Read more »

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Matt Doheny in Saturday's St. Augustine's Applefest Parade

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By John T. Ryan

Story reported 9/22/10 and updated 9/23/10

A fire early Wednesday afternoon destroyed the carriage barn and a Ford Mustang at the old Coffey homestead at the corner of Mason Street and Route 22B. The nearby unoccupied house was slightly damaged. The Press Republican reported in its September 23rd edition that the property is owned by John Webster and that it is uncertain if the loss will be fully covered by insurance.  The fire was reported at 1:31 p.m. with the involved fire departments back in service at 4:25 p.m.  The Morrisonville Fire Department battled the blaze with the Peru, Keeseville, South Plattsburgh, Cadyville and Saranac departments providing mutual aid. The AuSable Forks Fire Department stood by.   Peru Fireman David Brown was kind enough to provide several photos of the blaze.

Long-time local residents recall when the Coffey home was one of the most beautiful residences in the North Country. Former Peru Town Supervisor Jerome Downs” grandmother Mary Coffey was residing in the home at the time of her death. Jerome and his wife Janet resided there during the first five years of their marriage. Janet Downs said that the house is probably about 200 years old. It was once known as Bromley’s Tavern.  A newspaper article states that the tavern was bricked in 1857.

From Allan Everest’s Book— Pioneer Homes of Clinton County 1966: Bromley’s Tavern — original owner: Roswell Bromley  Date: c1805   For many years Bromley operated a tavern in this building, which was originally frame.  Gradually the building was extended back and sheds were added. Stephen Weaver acquired it around 1855 and bricked the structure in mid-century style.

From a book : Reminiscences— an Early History of Old Peru by members of Peru Grange———— just north of the Mason Cemetery—— “Near here Roswell Bromley built the old tavern through the parlor of which passes a line separating the towns of Peru and Schuyler Falls.  At first he built only the upright part, but as the county became more thickly settled greater accomodations for travelers became necessary and rooms and sheds were added until the house and barns were connected as they are today.  In this house one of the first temperance women of our town left unmistakable record, for tradition tells us that Mr. Bromley’s daughter, Josephine, refused to draw liquor for the men.  Although we do not know how old this house is, we find that about 1857 Stephen Weaver bought it and had it bricked and remodeled as it stands now”.

Janet Downs closed, “We lived there from Sept. 1958 til Oct. 1963.  Lots of good memories.”