The Peru Gazette

DEC Commissionker Basil Seggos proudly displays a copy of the Lake Champlain Wateshed Implementaation Plan

Dep. Town Supevisor Jim Douglass, Courtney Tetrault, Commissioner Seggos and Peru personnel

Courtney Tetrault explains what the wastewater treatment plant upgrades will accomplish 

By John T Ryan

March 18, 2024 – Ausable Point Campground – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos was in town today to officially announce the finalization of the Lake Champlain Watershed Implementation Plan and a $1 million water quality improvement grant to the Town of Peru to help fund improvement to its wastewater treatment plant. Deputy Supervisor Jim Douglass, Counselor Eric Duquette, Code Enforcement Officer Bob Guynup, Water-Sewer Parks Superintent Courtney Tetrault, and several water personnel represented the Town of Peru. 

Courtney Tetrault reported receipt of the grant at the town board’s February 24 meeting. Depending on the project’s scope, the estimated project cost ranges from $11 million to just over $25 million. DEC previously awarded Peru grants of $1 million and $1,366,290. Commissioner Seggos said Peru can still apply for grants and long-term low or no-interest loans. Peru is in the process of conducting a household income survey. If household incomes in the water district fall below a certain level, Peru would qualify for no-interest loans. New York also expanded its Community Assistance Teams to help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities access funding. $335 million in grant opportunities are open for applications on the State Environmental Facilities Corporation website.

The Lake Champlain Watershed Implementation Plan identifies potential projects that will significantly reduce the amount of pollutants entering the lake. Since 1995, New York has invested $112 million in State grants and $70 million in low-interest loans to support nearly 300 water quality improvement projects. The Watershed Implementation Plan will hopefully build on that progress. 

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

Good morning PTO members,

Just sending a quick reminder that applications for the Vice President and Fundraising Officer positions are due tomorrow in order to be considered for the position. To apply, please use the link below:

Application Submission Link: https://tinyurl.com/PeruPTOapplynow

____________
Fundraising Officer:
Key responsibilities include:
Developing and implementing innovative fundraising campaigns and events.
Cultivating relationships with donors, sponsors, and community partners.
Collaborating with the PTO board and committees to set fundraising goals and strategies.
Managing fundraising initiatives, including tracking donations and coordinating fundraising volunteers.
Writing appreciation letters to donors and sponsors to express gratitude for their support.
We are seeking candidates who possess:
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Creativity and resourcefulness in generating fundraising ideas.
Organizational abilities and attention to detail.
A passion for education and community involvement
___________
Vice President:
Key responsibilities include:
Collaborating with the President to set goals and strategies for the organization.
Assisting in the planning and execution of events, fundraisers, and initiatives.
Serving as a liaison between parents, teachers, and school administration.
Leading and supporting volunteer efforts.
Representing the PTO at school meetings and events.
Managing financial transactions, including cash transactions and bank accounts, in accordance with PTO policies and procedures.
We are seeking candidates who possess:
Strong leadership abilities and effective communication skills.
A passion for education and community engagement.
Organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.
A collaborative and inclusive approach to working with diverse stakeholders.

Amy Davies
President
Peru K-5 Parent Teacher Organization17 School StreetPeru, NY 12972
perupto@gmail.comhttps://www.facebook.com/perupto
Join our email list: https://tinyurl.com/peruptoemaillist

L-R Kolby Rawleigh and Riley Wilkens. Kolby built the chair.

Shaan Palmer and his friendly pets

Adam, Elizabeth and Roslyn Gillette

Peru, NY, March 16, 2024—Wonderful things were happening along Bear Swamp Rd. this sunny Saturday morning. Adam and Elizabeth Guilette enjoyed walking with their two-year-old daughter, Roslyn. At Rulfs Orchard, Shawn Palmer enjoyed wait time with two extremely friendly pit bull terriers. At the same time, Riley Wilkens and Kolby Rawleigh set up an Adirondack chair that kids will undoubtedly love!

Local physicians promote the benefits of walking, health education 

PLATTSBURGH, NY —The next Walk With a Doc will bring spring to your health routine. The walk, offered by the University of Vermont Health Network—Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) Family Medicine Residency, will take place on Saturday, March 23, at 10 a.m. at the YMCA on the Oval.

The walk is an opportunity to get your steps in, meet some new friends and get your questions answered by a local physician. Aaron Rode, MD, a Family Medicine Resident, leads the event. Good walking shoes and appropriate attire are recommended. It is free and open to all.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), walking provides numerous benefits to overall health. It helps decrease the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease while improving mental health.

Walk With A Doc takes place on the fourth Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. Funded by The Foundation of CVPH and its generous donors, the CVPH program is one of more than 400 nationwide and 32 countries worldwide.

No registration is required, however, first time participants are required to complete a waiver. For more information, contact CVPH Family Medicine Residency Coordinator Heather Lacey at (518) 314-3868 or hlacey@cvph.org.

The Town of Schuyler Falls announces the first annual Easter Egg Hunt for children 10 and under, which will be held on Saturday, March 30, starting at 2 PM at the Jefferson Dukette Memorial Field (Salmon River Rec Park) at 618 Salmon River Road, between Mason Street and Military Turnpike.

A special area will be designated for ages three and under.  Bring your own basket.

Over 8000 eggs filled with candy and goodies are expected to be ‘found’.  All are welcome.

This event is sponsored by Ryan’s Masonry LLC and Schuyler Falls Minimart LLC.

Ryan and Mindy Smith, owners, commented, “We just wanted to do something for the little kids, and this seemed like a good event for families…”

Questions?  Contact the Schuyler Falls Town Hall, 518-563-1129

On May 11, 2024, Champlain Area Trails (CATS) will host its signature annual Grand Hike, a 14-mile walk from Essex to Westport along scenic trails and back roads in New York’s Champlain Valley. The Grand Hike promotes healthy communities and well-being by bringing together outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and community members to experience the nearly 100 miles of trails CATS has created and maintains.

Founded in 2009, CATS is an accredited land trust that protects land, builds and maintains trails, connects people with nature, and promotes economic vitality in the Champlain Valley. To date, CATS has created and maintained 98+ miles of trails, protected 983 acres of land, and hosted hundreds of hikes, outdoor education outings, and volunteer events, attracting thousands of visitors annually.

The Grand Hike of 2024 is a 14-mile trek that takes hikers from Essex to Westport. Read more »

Historically sensitive renovations boast enhanced living quarters

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer Story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Alyssa and Amanda O’Brien inspire with menu, zero proof mocktails

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

“Blazing a Trail” gives the history of NYS parks and historic sites

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Spaghetti 

Salad 

Bread 

Dessert 

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972 

All are invited and welcome!

Plattsburgh stands among 20 different communities statewide and five in the North Country region with the designation.

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

Click here for the Reuters.com story 

The adoption process will be facilitated through Elmore SPCA, and the community is reminded not to visit the jail for information about the dogs

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

No need to have the luck of the Irish with this sweet deal!

Stewart’s Shops is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, with a 99¢ special on single-scoop Ice Cream Cones!

Feeling festive? Try a scoop of our cool and minty Mint Cookie Crumble or Mint Chip Ice Cream. Maybe you would rather sweeten things up by sinking your teeth into our award-winning Chocolate.

Don’t forget the sprinkles. They are always free!

Whatever flavor you choose, this deal is sure to brighten up the day.

And don’t forget to try Stewart’s limited-edition Shenanigan Shake Refreshers while supplies last!

Stewart’s is your one-stop Shop for all your St. Patrick’s Day needs from our Buttermilk, the magic ingredient for pancakes or whipping up a loaf of Irish Soda Bread, to beer and potato chips and our limited-edition Irish Cream Coffee!

What’s Your Flavor?

The Peru Central School Board of Education will gather Tuesday, March 26^th and Thursday, March 28^th at 6:00 PM to conduct 24-25 budget workshops.

The March 26^th meeting will be held in the High School Community Room.

The March 28^th meeting will be held in the High School Cafeteria.

At these workshops, the School Board is expected to discuss/review:

• Base Budget
• Proposals and/or Reductions
• Balancing of Revenues and Expenditures

The meetings are open to the public and current District, County, State and Federal safety procedures and protocols will be followed.

The agendas will be available on the District’s website.

Residents Invited to Two Special Events in March

During March 2024, Jehovah’s Witnesses will be launching a special campaign to invite fellow residents of The Champlain Valley to two special events.

On Sunday, March 24, millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world will gather to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ. 

The annual observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal will feature a talk highlighting the significance of Jesus’ death and what it means for all of mankind. 

The one-hour event will begin and conclude with prayer. 

To learn more about how Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Lord’s Supper, please visit the event’s Frequently Asked Questions page found on jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 

Before the Memorial, a special talk titled “The Resurrection—Victory Over Death!” will be delivered on the weekend of March 16 and 17, 2024. 

The 30-minute, Bible-based public talk will focus on the scriptural hope of a resurrection and what it means for the loved ones we have lost.

Admission to the Memorial and special talk is free and open to the public.

For more information about these events and how to attend, please visit jw.org.

Plattsburgh (3/15/2024) | For over 60 years, the North Country Chamber of Commerce has organized the St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, a beloved tradition in the community. We were delighted to welcome a sold-out crowd to the West Side Ballroom this morning. The lively event took on a “Tonight Show” format, with Matt Boire as the host, entertaining the audience with an hour of merriment and humor.

The event’s highlight is the Irish Person of the Year recognition, bestowed upon individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to volunteerism in business, community, or civic activities. This year, we proudly honored Robert Frenyea. Robert Frenyea’s outstanding community leadership and unwavering commitment to service set him apart. Robert holds family values in high regard as a devoted father of two daughters and a loving husband to Michelle. In addition to his tenure on the chamber board, including a term as chairperson, Robert played a crucial role in fostering international business relations through Canadian seminars. His deep respect for veterans is evident in his active involvement with the West Plattsburgh Legion and his active service in Vietnam. Read more »

            “From its quarter-trillion-dollar price tag to its misplaced priorities and failure to address major outstanding issues like the broken Tier Six pension system and our ongoing public safety crisis, the Senate one-house budget would put New York State in even more dire financial straits than it is currently in.

“A recent comptroller report noted that the high tax-and-spend climate in our state is a major contributor to our outmigration crisis. This plan, would increase taxes by an additional $7 billion and spends a mind-boggling $246.2 billion, $13 billion more than Governor Hochul’s already costly Executive Budget proposal. Not only does this proposal fail to address the root causes of outmigration, it exacerbates the problem and contains many misplaced priorities.

“The Senate plan includes $2.4 billion for illegal immigrant support services, as well as an additional $175 million in health insurance coverage for them. This is funding that belongs to legal, law-abiding taxpayers and would be better off being returned as needed tax relief or towards reforming Tier Six.

“At a time when retail theft is on the rise and public safety remains an urgent concern, the Senate budget would cut nearly $100 million in funding for the state police. It would also advance the governor’s proposal to close up-to five correctional facilities. These measures are just yet another sign of how Senate leadership is failing to take the safety of our communities seriously.

“While the Senate one-house budget proposal addresses some major concerns of mine – namely, raising the Medicaid reimbursement rate for nursing homes and hospitals and restoring Foundation Aid for our schools – this is ultimately a plan that contains far more bad than good. That’s why I voted against the Senate’s one-house budget proposal. The Legislature and governor must do a better job of serving the priorities of our hardworking families and small business owners. As we work towards an enacted budget, I urge all parties to exercise fiscal responsibility and do what’s right for all New Yorkers.”

Click here for the NCPR story 

Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Monday, April 1, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru. 

On February 29, CVPH collected 28 pints in Peru, which is a wonderful total. Thank you to all the donors! 

All blood collected is utilized in our trl-county region.

The drive is being coordinated by St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273.