The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Community Church Mission Team returned home on Monday, January 26^th, after a ten-day mission trip to Mandeville, Jamaica. Team Co-Chairman George Burrell said it was a successful trip for the sixteen volunteers. “We constructed a 12 foot by 16 foot addition on a family’s home and it was extremely well received. The family was thrilled.”  Read more »

By John T. Ryan

Bob Washbourne was one of the first people to contribute photos to this website. We hadn’t heard from him in several weeks so yesterday we sent him an email. He responded almost immediately with photos from New Mexico. We love them! We invite all our readers to submit their travel photos from around our nation and world. It’s fun and educational to see where you are traveling. Please send the photos in a large format of about 960 x 1200 or about 200 to 300 KB to editor@perugazette.com.  The photos will be posted on the right side of our homepage under “Travel Photos.”

Click here for the Planning Board Agenda

By John T. Ryan

The figures speak for themselves – The number of existing single family homes sold in Clinton County fell by 10.8% in 2008, but that was not much as many other parts of the state. Statewide sales decreased by 16.2%. The median sales price of a Clinton County home increased by 5.2% compared to a statewide decline of 8.5%. Comparing December 2008 to December 2007, the number of Clinton County homes sold (33) increased by 6.5% while the median sales price ($123,500) decreased by 5%. 

Here are the 2008 existing single-family home sales figures for Clinton, Essex, Jefferson and Warren Counties as released by the New York State Association of Realtors. Read more »

L-R Brian Mulcahy, Samantha Mulcahy, Rachel Daly, Matt Daly

By John T. Ryan

On February 15th, the traditional start of winter break, many local residents will be departing for vacations, but another group of residents will be departing for Chiquilistagua, Nicaragua (about 10 miles from Managua) where they will be working as North Country Mission of Hope volunteers. Several Peru residents have made the mission trip since it began in 1998 and this year is no exception. Read more »

As the snow falls this January day, it might be nice to look at some of the blessings winter brings. Here are a few photos taken at Whiteface Mountain on February 26, 2007.

From the Peru Community Church

Award winning singer and veteran Broadway performer Karen Mason returns to the North Country for one show only on Friday, February 6^th.  The performance will be held at the Plattsburgh Elks Club and will begin at 8:00pm.  Tickets for the performance are $25 each and are available at the Peru Community Church Office (13 Elm Street) or by calling 643-8641.  All proceeds will benefit the Peru Community Church Senior High Youth Group’s annual mission trip to Washington, DC. Read more »

By John T. Ryan

Sidewalk plowing, insurance coverage, open burning and equipment purchases highlighted the Peru Town Board’s January 26, 2009 meeting. 

During the public comment period resident Greg Cassidy complained Read more »

L-R Emily O'Connor, Samantha Bashaw, Lucas Frenyea, Zane Bazzano, Conor Casey and Chairman Brian Mulcahy

By John T. Ryan

St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 conducted its annual free throw contest on Sunday, Janaury 25th. Chairman Brian Mulcahy congratulated the winners: Read more »

Click here for minutes of the Planning Board’s December 2008 meeting

The agenda for the Peru Town Board’s  January 26th meeting is one of the briefest in recent memory. Supervisor Donald Covel will discuss and/or vote on the following matters: retirement procedures for elected and appointed salary positions as directed by the NYS Retirement Department; contracts that were not approved at the Board’s January 12th organziational meeting;  a previous board policy that meeting agenda items be presented by Wednesday of the previous week; and town insurance. 

Submitted by Carol Ruscoe

The Elmore SPCA will be hosting its Valentine’s Day “Have-a-Heart” fundraiser on Saturday, Feb.7th at the Champlain Centre Mall in Plattsburgh from 10 am – 7 pm. There will be handmade quilts, and other terrific gifts for your sweetie for sale. Read more »

By John T. Ryan

Peru Town Supervisor Donald Covel told the Peru Gazette this morning, “All charges against me have been dismissed with the exception of the charge related to the firing of Paul Blaine.” Covel’s statement was confirmed by the Clinton County Court and by Covel’s attorney Mark Cowen. Read more »

Joanne Kennedy and Lori Clark are continuing their pursuit of the “Winter 46” often accompanied by their friend Colleen Kaulfuss. On Monday, January 19, 2009, the ladies completed a thirteen hour hike up Cliff and Redfield Mountains. A stomach bug kept fellow hiker Jean Ryan from accompanying them, but she’ll undoubtedly be back for their next adventure. Joanne Kennedy wrote an interesting account of Monday’s very difficult trek.  Read more »

By John T. Ryan

Anyone reading the news headlines would believe that home building has almost come to a halt, but last year the Town of Peru did not follow the national trends.  Code Enforcement Officer Paul Blaine Read more »

By John T. Ryan

At a time when most Americans have the Inauguration of our new President on their minds I thought people might enjoy some of the photos I took on October 20, 2007. I walked from the White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Read more »

Skiing at the New Land Trust in Saranac

By Joanne Kennedy

After reading about the New Land Trust Trail System in Saranac, I decided it was time to check it out for myself.  A quick phone call to my friend Tina and in no time we were off on the 20-minute drive from Peru to the trailhead.  Read more »

L-R Jerrilynn Pratt-Mullen, Jon Ruff, Ellen Hogan, Dan and Janet Geldert, Bob Gallinger, Nancy Fegan, Harriet Burrell, Donald Haight, Polly Lake, George Burrell, Peter Lake. Not Present: Rev. Bob Svenson, Brenda Roberts, Hank and Amelia Horn

By John T. Ryan

On Saturday, January 17, 2009, the Peru Community Church’s Mission Team will depart on its 10th journey to Mandeville, Jamaica. Team members George Burrell and Hank Horn traveled to Jamaica earlier in the week to lay out the team projects. Read more »

Click here to see the Superintendent’s complete report

Click here for Superintendent Scott’s summary of the meeting highlights

By John T. Ryan

The Peru Town Board conducted its annual organizational meeting on Monday, January 12, 2009 preceding its regular meeting. Annual contracts were renewed and committee chairs appointed for 2009. There were no significant changes from 2008.

Michael Farrell made his first report as Peru’s Highway Superintendent. Read more »

By Adele Douglas

I’m not a downhill skier, I believe my Dad tried to teach me when I was very young but all I remember was being scared and cold. On top of that it seems all so very overwhelming, the fancy equipment, the challenging lifts, and the large bustling ski hills where everyone else seems to know what they’re doing.

However, Read more »

By John T. Ryan

Three Peru ladies Joanne Kennedy, Lori Clark and Jean Ryan are attempting to climb the “Winter 46” which means they must climb all the Adirondack peaks over 4,000 feet in height during the winter season.  They’ve already climbed 35 plus peaks. Last Saturday, January 10, 2009, accompanied by their friend Colleen Kaulfuss, the ladies climbed Donaldson, Emmons and Seward Mountains starting their climb between Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake. They hiked about thirteen hours.  Here are some of the photos they shared (Click Here)

 Introduction by John T. Ryan

This past Christmas a blown circuit breaker at St. Augustine’s Church resulted in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Masses being celebrated without the benefit of electric power.  A few candles were the only lights that illuminated the Church. Peru resident Rachel Daly, a student at Seton Catholic, wrote to the North Country Catholic newspaper and expressed her feelings very beautifully.  Please read her letter. Read more »

Click here for the complete agenda. The agenda includes student and staff recognition; retirement, salary and tenure news; a Superintendent’s Report on several issues including the financial challenges facing education and a goal of achieving a 90% graduation rate.