The Peru Gazette

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This is your chance to support a family with Peru ties whose son is undergoing cancer treatment

By John T Ryan

Peru/Plattsburgh —If you’ve never been to Peru’s Courthouse, you may not know Holly Stone. She’s been a Peru court clerk since 2011. Holly and her husband Terry’s 25-year-old son Austin is battling brain cancer.

Austin Stone is a 2016 Beekmantown High School/CVTEC and 2023 Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) graduate. Before the onset of his illness, he worked in Rochester as a computer game design and development engineer.

Peru Town Judge James Kirby, who has worked with Austin’s mom for many years and has been battling cancer himself for over two years, commented. “I’ve met Austin. He’s a very nice man. We couldn’t ask for a nicer family. Cancer is an awful thing for a family to go through.”

The first sign of Austin’s cancer came on November 19, 2023, when he suddenly lost consciousness. On January 5, physicians diagnosed his illness as a rare form of cancer called oligodendroglioma multifocal. He has four cancerous brain tumors. Associated symptoms commonly include seizures, headaches, altered sensations (strange smells or hallucinations related to the sense of smell), muscular weakness (mainly down one side of the body), and a loss of control of bodily movements. Austin’s experiencing all of those symptoms.

Austin’s Aunts, Sandy Rasco, Judy Rasco, Gail LeBeau, and Uncle Art Rasco, are organizing a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for April 27 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) at the Quarry Road American Legion in Plattsburgh. There’ll be an auction, raffle, music, and great food. The dinner, raffle, and auction proceeds will help with Austin’s medical and travel expenses to Burlington and Boston. Auction donations and gift cards to help purchase dinner supplies are needed.

If you would like to discuss a potential collaboration or to make a donation, you can contact Art at 518-569-1859, Sandy at 518-293-1116, Gail at 518-225-2186, or Judy at 518-569-9849.

Given Holly Stone’s long and valued service to our community, the Peru Gazette hopes Peru will rally behind the Stone family.

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Jeremiah Cross in his Pru Town Hall office today

By John T Ryan 

April 15, 2024, Peru—Most Peru property owners opened their mailboxes today to find their 2024 Assessment Notification from Peru’s assessor, Jeremiah Cross. An accompanying letter explains why annual assessments are necessary and provides options if a taxpayer disagrees with the assessed value. County, town, and school tax rates, not assessed values, determine final tax bills. When the town’s total assessed value increases, tax rates typically decrease. 

According to the 2024 assessment, Peru’s 3.363 parcels have a total assessed value of $792 million, about $59 million (7.5%) higher than last year.  Most assessed values increased by about 5%, but a few increases were much more. (The Gazette watched one taxpayer open his notification envelope. His assessment increased by $113,000 or 33%). 

“The location, home style, additions, and renovations account for most changes. Property on Lake Champlain experienced the biggest increases, Cross commented.” 

Not all properties increased in value; fifty-three parcels decreased by $1.8 million. Fire damage, removal of a portion of a parcel, and corrections in assessed value are the most common reasons for the decreases.  

Cross said the assessments are based on property sales between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, when sales prices escalated. Over the past few months, prices have moderated. If this trend continues, 2025 value increases should be less. Cross commented, “I would love for this to happen. It would make my life a lot easier!”  

Taxpayers questioning their assessments should ask themselves, “What would cause anyone to pay less than the assessed value for my property?” “Do I have evidence that might change the assessment, such as photos, a realtor’s estimate, or an appraisal from a licensed appraiser to contest the assessment?” 

The best way to meet with Jeremiah Cross is to make an appointment through the Clinton County Real Property Office by calling 518-566-4760. On Tuesdays, he’s at his Peru Town Hall office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m . Phone 518-643-2745 Extension 104. He’ll do his best to answer questions over the phone, but he anticipates his phone being busy often. 

CVPH Lockdown Initiated for Patient and staff safety

Security measures were lifted after a quick, professional response from local law enforcement

PLATTSBURGH, NY (04/15/2024) — Earlier this morning, the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) officials, in conjunction with local law enforcement, locked down the Main Campus after a credible threat to a provider was received.  The decision was made for the safety and security of patients and staff.

While patient care continued on the main campus, some appointments and procedures were delayed or postponed.

At 10 am, the lockdown was lifted after hospital officials were informed that there was no longer a threat.

“Our thanks to the quick and professional response from the New York State Police, Clinton County Sheriff’s Department and Plattsburgh City Police Department,” said CVPH Administrator Katherine Peterson. “The decision to enter into a lockdown was made with the safety of our patients and staff in mind. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused to our patients and our thanks to them for their understanding.” “Once again, our employees did an extraordinary job continuing to care for our patients and for supporting each other,” she said.

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This story was last updated at 1:50 p.m.

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Despite more than a billion dollars in support from taxpayers, fans are being told they’ll have to pay for the right to buy season tickets

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DiPasquale passed away on April 4, He served as the College President from 2017 to 2021

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New practice focuses on family health

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The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold a special meeting in the High School Library on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 7:30 AM.  The purpose of this meeting is to adopt the 24-25 property tax report card and to vote on the BOCES (CVES) administrative budget and on the slate of candidates running for open CVES board seats.  At this time, no other district business is anticipated.

The agenda will be available on the District’s website (perucsd.org).

The meeting is open to the public.

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An employee had the idea to sell pizzas to people stopped at red lights. It worked in a big way! 

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Official Democratic candidates for the City of Plattsburgh mayor are Dan Lennon and Wendell Hughes, who will face off in a primary; the Republican candidate is former mayor Don Kasprzak. Click here for the Press-Republican story 

Worldwide event promotes breastfeeding as a healthy start for babies 

PLATTSBURGH, NY – Breastfeeding women and their families are invited to participate in The Big Latch On, which is planned for Saturday, April 13, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The free event, hosted by the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital’s (CVPH) Alice T. Miner Women and Children Center (WCC), will be held inside the hospital’s board room.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with latch time starting promptly at 10:30 am. Each year, breastfeeding women across the globe come together to nurse their child for one full minute at an established time. The event originated in New Zealand and was started by the Women’s Health Action in 2005 as part of World Breastfeeding Week.

The Plattsburgh Big Latch On is held annually as part of this worldwide effort to promote breastfeeding as a healthy start for babies. The Big Latch On is a celebration of breastfeeding, though all types of infant feeding are recognized as valid and supported.

“The breastfeeding journey is different for every woman. For some, it can be a real challenge,” Jocelyn Fittin, BSN, RN, IBCLC, a Lactation Consultant with the WCC, says. “This event is so important because women and families from our community can see that they’re not alone and that there is a lot of support out there to lean on. I’m also proud of how much this event has helped normalize breastfeeding over the years. And it’s pretty amazing that we get to be part of something that’s happening around the world.”

In addition to the latch-on moment, mothers, babies and their loved ones can also enjoy:

• Getting their picture taken courtesy of Life to Lens Photography
• Prizes for the youngest and oldest nursling
• Door prize
• Refreshments
• Local agencies and vendors on site with information and to answer questions
• Bake sale benefiting the WCC Bereavement Program to help families through infant loss

For more information, contact Fittin at (518) 562-7142.

Schenectady, N.Y. – Price Chopper/Market 32 customers and teammates raised $182,990 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) during its annual March fundraiser where customers were encouraged to round up their change at the register. Combined with a $10,000 corporate match, the total gift of $192,990.36 — nearly $78,000 more than last year’s campaign — directly benefits MDA’s mission to empower the people they serve to live longer, more independent lives.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is committed to saving and improving the lives of kids and adults living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related life-threatening neuromuscular diseases that take away physical strength and mobility. MDA specializes in providing funding for research, improving access to advanced care and resource centers, offering educational programs for the community, clinicians and specialists, and advocating for policies and programs that support families with neuromuscular diseases.

Over the past 40 years, Price Chopper/Market 32 has raised nearly $31 million for MDA through various events and campaigns.

“Our company, customers, and teammates are committed to our communities,” said Pam Cerrone, Price Chopper/Market 32’s director of community relations. “We’re thrilled with these results and proud to be able to support MDA’s research efforts and provision of care and assistance to children and adults who are impacted by muscular dystrophy and other related diseases.”

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