The Peru Gazette

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Federal appropriations bill includes money for new joint emergency services complex

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The VT. nursing sector has seen a decline of 1,700 jobs compared to this time in 2019.

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(SCHENECTADY, N.Y.)  Price Chopper/Market 32 has launched a campaign to help raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). During the month of March, customers have the opportunity to round up their change at checkout, 100% of which will go directly to MDA. Price Chopper/Market 32 will match all funds raised, up to $10,000.

MDA is committed to saving and improving the lives of children and adults living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related life-threatening diseases. MDA funds groundbreaking research for promising treatments and provides families with the highest quality care from the best doctors in the country.

“Price Chopper/Market 32 has a decades-long relationship with MDA that began when our then president, Neil Golub, co-hosted the annual telethon. We are pleased to join with our customers and teammates to continue to fuel MDA’s research efforts and provision of care and assistance to those impacted by muscular dystrophy and other related diseases,” said Pam Cerrone, Price Chopper/Market 32’s director of community relations.

3/11/2024 – Plattsburgh, NY – As the celestial event of the decade approaches, the Adirondack Coast community is abuzz with excitement, gearing up for an extraordinary celebration surrounding the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. From captivating educational experiences to celestial-themed festivities, both residents and visitors are in for an unparalleled cosmic adventure.

Solar Eclipse events include:

April 5, 2024

LAKE CITY COWORKING: Path of Totality Portraits and Mocktails
26 City Hall Place, Plattsburgh, NY

• Sit for an artful black & white portrait inspired by the eclipse and enjoy a delicious mocktail that embraces the magic of the moment!

April 5, 2024-April 27, 2024

STRAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS and SUNY PLATTSBURGH ART MUSEUM: Darkness and Light Exhibition

• A two-part collaborative exhibition celebrating the 2024 eclipse, showcasing themes of Darkness at the Strand Center Gallery and Light at the Feinberg Library.

April 6, 2024 – April 8, 2024

ADIRONDACK FRAGRANCE FARM: Eclipse Fragrance Festival
Pine Street Arena, 43 Pine Street, Potsdam, NY

• Experience the exclusive ADK Eclipse Fragrance Collection, capturing the essence of the cosmic event. Enjoy guided hikes, a craft, food, and wine eclipse vendor fair from April 6-8. Visit their website for details and ticket options.

April 5, 2024 – April 9, 2024

ADIRONDACK SKY CENTER & OBSERVATORY: Totality in Tupper

• A weekend-long event featuring guest speakers, NASA livestreams, indoor planetarium visits, citizen scientist data collection, live solar telescope views, and activities for science enthusiasts of all ages.

April 8, 2024

AUSABLE CHASM: Solar Eclipse Spectacular
2144 US 9, Ausable Chasm, NY

• Witness the merging of Ausable Chasm and the Total Solar Eclipse. Enjoy morning hikes, dedicated viewing areas at “Solar Flats,” food vendors, facilities, parking, and keepsake magnets for ticket purchasers.

April 8, 2024

TITUS MOUNTAIN: Total at the Top Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
215 Johnson Road, Malone, NY

• Join Titus Mountain on April 8th, 2024, for an unforgettable Total Solar Eclipse experience! Ski on their Upper Mountain slopes while witnessing this rare cosmic event. With a perfect view of the complete eclipse, enjoy live entertainment, food, and drinks at our Upper Lodge. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon at Titus Mountain – See you at the summit!

April 8, 2024

KLUBHOUSE FITNESS: Eclipse Viewing from the Top of Poke-O-Moonshine
316 Cornelia St Suite 7, Plattsburgh, NY

• Embark on a celestial adventure with a hike up Poke-O-Moonshine, featuring eclipse glasses, a champagne toast, and a goodie bag. Sign up at klubhousefitness.com for a memorable experience.

April 8, 2024

PARKER FAMILY MAPLE FARM: Great Solar Eclipse Party
1043 Slosson Road, West Chazy, NY

• A FREE event featuring Food Dudes’ delights, live music, local treats, Oval Craft’s craft beer, Parker’s maple soft serve, and a celestial experience from 1 pm to 4:30 pm.

April 8, 2024

AUSABLE BREWING COMPANY: Eclipse Viewing Party
765 Mace Chasm Road, Keeseville, NY

• Celebrate the Total Solar Eclipse at Ausable Brewing Company with exclusive eclipse-themed beers, live music, and food truck delights—a cosmic celebration, not just a viewing party!

April 8, 2024

CITY OF PLATTSBURGH: Eclipse Viewing Party
4 Beach Road, Plattsburgh, NY

• Join the City of Plattsburgh at Plattsburgh City Beach on April 8th, 12:00-5:00 PM, for an eclipse viewing party with live music, local food trucks, and telescope insights from astronomy enthusiast Ephemer ADK.

April 8, 2024

LYON MOUNTAIN MINING & RAILROAD MUSEUM: Museum Tours before Eclipse Viewing
2914 Standish Road, Lyon Mountain, NY

• Experience Lyon Mountain’s Solar Eclipse celebration with guided museum tours from 10 AM to 2 PM, followed by a stunning eclipse viewing at Lyon Mountain Community Ballpark.

These events are just a glimpse into the incredible array of activities planned for the Adirondack Coast community during the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. Visitors are encouraged to explore the full schedule on adkcoasteclipse.com/events to plan their personalized eclipse experience. Souvenirs, viewing areas, and more can also be found on the official website.

Seven colleges from all over the state are among the top 100 party schools in the U.S.,

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The Adirondacks Welcome Center is a great place for a quick stop when traveling north on I87 (between exits 17 & 18) from Albany. It’s super clean, has a great choice of snack foods & beverages and a wonderful video of our region. There’s even a small playground and dog park. What a great welcome to oour visitors!

Casey Frankoski, a graduate of Columbia High School, and New York State Trooper John Grassia, of Schenectady, named by local officials as fatalities

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Unified basketball welcomes Peru at premiere assembly game

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1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call 

4. MOTION/DISCUSSION:  To Accept Reports from all Departments: (Water/Sewer/Valcour; Highway; Town Clerk; Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning; Supervisor’s Report; Court; Website; and Banking Reports, JCEO);

5. MOTION:  Acceptance of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of February 20, 2024.

6. Community Input. 

7. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Request for Town to Apply to NYS Pro-Housing Communities Program.

8. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Allow Water/Sewer/Parks Dept. to Advertise for a Seasonal Laborer.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Accept Resignation from Highway MEO I.

10. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approve the Hiring of New Highway MEO I.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Acceptance of Wastewater Sand Bed Decommissioning Proposal.

12. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approval of Handbook Change for Maximum Compensation Time.

13. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approval of Handbook Change for Highway CDL Licensing.

14. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Set Dates and Times for Engineer RFQ Interviews.

15. DISCUSSION:  Other Business.

16. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

17. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay March 2024 Bills.

18. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

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TOWN OF PERU

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL of December 20, 2023 minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing 
6. APPLICATIONS:
   1. 1. 1. Z2024-08 AreaVariance

John Andre, 279.2.1-38,  7 Washington St                                                       

7. AN FURTHER BUSINESS               
8. CEO REPORT
9. ADJOURNMENT

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Concept drawing of station after renovations

New space in yellow and pink

By John T Ryan

March 6, 2024 – If voters approve, the Peru Fire Station will be undergoing a significant expansion. Fire Commissioner Chairman Greg Timmons unveiled preliminary plans at the fire station last night. Engineers from Architectural Engineering and Design Associates (AEDA) also responded to questions. The department’s plans include:

• Expanding the building’s five bays by fifty feet toward Bear Swamp Road.  
• Adding a decontamination room.
• Adding a filling station/room.
• Adding a parking area east of the building
• Expanding equipment storage space and include a locker room with nearby showers and restrooms.
• Using the existing social room to expand space for ambulance EMS personnel
• Constructing a new social room
• Improving building drainage.
• Installing new furnaces/boilers.
• Adding a fitness room
• Including space for the public to see its historic fire truck

The changes would add about 5,900 square feet to the fire station and cost an estimated $3.8 million based on 2024 construction costs. Engineers estimated the additional burden on taxpayers to be just under $.52 per thousand of taxable value.

The department’s bond council is currently researching borrowing costs. After that, taxpayers will have their say in a referendum. If approved, AEDA will develop more detailed plans, advertise bids, and begin construction, hopefully no later than early 2025.

Greg Timmons summarized why the expansion is needed: “The department built the original structure in 1973. It’s aging and deteriorating. We have drainage issues. We need to get water away from the building. We started planning this about two years ago.”

Fire trucks are changing. Timmons explained, “Today’s trucks are bigger, longer, and taller. We want plenty of room for the trucks because we anticipate Peru’s future growth. We also want to meet national and state decontamination standards.”

Discussing the decontamination room, Timmons said, “Fires can leave carcinogens, toxins, and organisms on a firefighter’s gear. The skin can be affected. Departments are going to what is called the clean concept.” The new decontamination room will enable firefighters to immediately clean and blow dry their equipment while keeping contaminants isolated from the rest of the station. The locker or turnaround room will give them much more room to stow gear. It will also have an outside entrance for emergency personnel from the new parking area east of the building. All firefighters report to the station before responding to a call.

As an incentive to attract and retain members, the department purchases gym memberships for firefighters if they want to join. The fitness room will include several aerobic machines so personnel can work out at the station rather than join a gym. The room currently serving as a social room will be converted into additional space for EMS crews. There will also be a new room for social gatherings, trophies, antique nozzles, and other memorabilia. The department’s twice-restored 1926 Brockway fire truck will have a home in the glass-enclosed room facing the highway at the western end of the building. Planning for these upgrades has been taking place for over two years. Note correction of March 14, 2024. The original story stated 6,100 sq. ft. 5,900 is the correct sq. footage. 

Corrections of August 20, 2024: The original story stated a 40-foot bay expansion. A 50-foot expansion was actually being planned. It also stated gym memberships were mandatory. They are used as incentives, but they are not mandated. 

Current station’s original structure was erected in 1973.