The Peru Gazette

The Times Union reports 

The Post-Standard reports

By Adele Douglas

Walking through town today was much easier than usual after a big winter storm.  The sidewalks were all plowed! As an experiment, Highway Superintendent Mike Farrell wanted to see how much time and effort sidewalk clean up would take.  Brian Duprey was out for about two hours in a small snow blower that was borrowed from the Town of Ausable. It seems the two towns work together and share equipment for a number of different road projects and that using the snow blower in the future will not be a problem. So far Mike’s happy with how quickly and smoothly it went, and plans to keep it up. This is wonderful news for the walking public!

The Post-Standard reports

By John T. Ryan 

The Clinton County Board of Elections has certified the 2009 election results. Fifty-five percent (2,293) of Peru’s registered voters (4,128 as of September 2009) turned out at the polls, an extremely high turnout for an off-year election. A normal voter turnout would be in the forty to forty-five percent range. Here are the final figures including the Special Congressional Election results for the Town of Peru.   Read more »

The Watertown Times reports

The “Too Tall Sting Band” will be entertaining at the Peru Community Church Fellowship Center this Friday night December 11, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.  The group’s concerts are always entertaining and the Fellowship Center is a good music venue. Please make every effort to attend. You’ll see your friends and neighbors too!

Town Clerk Kathleen Flynn administers the oath of office to Town Supervisor Peter Glushko. Karen Glushko holds the Bible.

By Donald McBrayer

Peter Glushko took the oath of office at 4:30PM on Tuesday, December 8th to become Peru’s Supervisor filling the vacancy left by previous Supervisor Don Covel. Recently elected Kregg Bruno was also sworn into office as Town Councilor to finish the two-year term balance on the seat vacated by Cortland Forrence.

During a Special Town Board Meeting the same evening Town Councilor Brandy McDonald made a motion to seat recently elected Jim Douglass to the Town Council to fill a seat vacated by Peter Glushko just hours before. The motion was seconded by Kregg Bruno, and unanimously approved.
Cortland Forrence will hold the Deputy Supervisor position until the Board selects a successor. Forrence indicated an intention to resign the position by year’s end. This marks the first time Peru has had a full board since April 27.

Burlington FreePress.com reports 

VFW Post 309: BY ORDER OF THE COMMANDER

A Special Meeting will be held 1800HR, 16 DEC 2009 for the purpose of electing a TRUSTEE.  Location of meeting will be VFW Post 309, 710 Pleasant St, Peru NY 12972

The Peru Town Board will hold a Special Meeting tonight December 8, 2009 at 7 p.m. to discuss the town health insurance program and any other necessary business. The town faces a possible 33% increase in health insurance costs.

By Donald McBrayer

If you happen to be outside during the evening next week, look up. The Geminid Meteor Shower will be streaking overhead. The Geminids (named so because they seem to originate from the constellation Gemini) are usually an active shower displaying up to 100 meteors an hour. This year they will peak on the Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th.

Unlike other meteor showers that can’t be viewed until the wee morning hours, the Geminids are best viewed in the early evening (9 to 11 PM). There will no moon during those dates meaning a darker sky and the promise of even more visible meteors. Geminids are medium-speed meteors with the brighter ones displaying colors of yellow, green, and blue.   

For best viewing you will need only two things: A clear dark sky, and a set of eyeballs. Around 9:00 P.M. You will want to look toward the South East (toward the direction somewhere between Lake Champlain and Keesville) Find the unmistakable constellation Orion. A little left of Orion are two bright stars, one over the other. These are the twins, or the main stars in Gemini (Castor on top, Pollex on the bottom). The Geminids will seem to be coming from these stars. At this point, make sure your dressed warm, out of artificial lighting, and comfortable. Then sit back and enjoy the show.

Meteor showers occur when the Earth travels through the dust trails left by passing comets. As the dust enter Earths atmosphere, it burns up leaving streaks of lighted beauty for our enjoyment – how thoughtful. The Geminids are remnants of an extinct comet cryptically named “3200 Phaethon”.

Viewing the Geminds is a great experience for the entire family, so be sure to include your kids. (Just don’t make the mistake I did a few years back by telling the little ones, Santa’s sleigh has a hole and those are Christmas presents burning up in the atmosphere.)

The Adirondoack Almanac reports

The adirondack almanack reports

The Watertown Daily Times reports

By John T. Ryan

Traffic in front of St. Augustine’s Church was disrupted today about 4:15 p.m. when a vehicle entering Peru on Route 22 left the right side of the highway and sheared off a power pole directly in front of St. Augustine’s Church.  The driver did not appear to be injured in the accident. Northbound traffic was diverted through the St. Augustine’s Church parking lot. Southbound traffic was directed to N. Bend Street. Power lines were down and partially across Route 22. Peru Fire Department, New York State Police and NYSEG personnel were on the scene of the accident.

By Donald McBrayer

See a video of Santa arriving via fire truck
http://d1091839.domain.com/PeruTown/santa_arrives_to_peru.htm

There might not be any snow on the ground, but the wide-eyed wonderment of children kicked off the Holiday Season better than the whitest of blizzards. The 2009 Peru Tree Lighting Ceremony was held at 7 P.M. on Friday, December 4th to a record crowd.

The talented Back Porch Band led the festive crowd in Christmas Carols as dozens of families packed the Gazebo grounds awaiting Santa. Town Supervisor Elect Peter Glushko had the honors this year of flicking the switch that lit the Holiday Tree in colorful splendor. Moments later, Santa Clause himself arrived in classic Peruvian fashion via fire truck. 

The entire gathering then moved into the Fellowship Center where children of all ages waited in long lines eager to get a chance to inform Santa of their Holiday wishes. Music, inside, was provided by Tim’s Tunes, and many activities were set up to entertain the young ones as the entire community basked in good cheer. (See all our photos)

A Special thanks is owed to the Peru Youth Commission, The Peru Fire Department, The Peru Fellowship Center, and all the talented people who came together to make this year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony one to cherish.
Merry Christmas!
 

The Valley News reports

Here’s a link to our story and photos of the Choir’s 2008 performance

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

Approved October 2009 Zoning Board Minutes

By Adele Douglas

It’s December and Christmas shopping madness has begun. If you’d like a break from the typical hectic shopping experience available at the big Plattsburgh retailers, head over to the library. Locally made, beautifully displayed art will greet you. (Click to see a series of photos) 

The Peru Free Library is hosting an exhibit and sale of works by the North Country Potter’s Guild, including ceramics and mixed media. Not only are they beautiful, but many of the items are extremely affordable, prices range from $4 on up. 

 The opening reception is this Friday, December 4, from 5 to 7pm and it’s a great opportunity to meet the artists in a fun atmosphere, helped along by yummy food and wine.  The exhibit and sale will run through to January 8^th.  Library hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 10am to 7pm, Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.  Call 643-8618 for more information.

See October 2009 Planning Board Minutes for an explanation 

By Donald McBrayer

Peru’s Town Board is currently shopping around for health insurance for Town Employees. This daunting task is made more complex by the wide variety of options available. Town employees should be actively engaged in this process because they will be directly affected by any decision that is made. There is a Special Meeting set for Thursday December 3rd at 7:00 P.M. to continue exploring options, and voting on this issue will happen before the end of the calendar year. One of the main issues being discussed is offering high deductible policies and supplementing them with HRAs or HSAs. These two options are similar, but also quite different. It is important to understand the difference when considering them. Read more »

Click here to review the Board’s Wednesday December 9th Agenda