The Peru Gazette

A painful story to report! 

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L-R Keegan Hartman, Welding Expert and Technical Services, Alstom; Padraic Bean, Weld Process Consultant, The Lincoln Electric Company and Former Bombardier/Alstom Employee; Brett Hughes, Student and Current Alstom Employee; Ryan Bombard, Student and Current Alstom Employee; Sienna Brooks, Student; James Hammons, Student; Nilazjah Moore, Student; Marshall Turner, Student; Chuck Taylor, Welding Instructor and Former Bombardier Employee; Gavin Barber-Spoor, Student; Michael LeBeau, Student; Daniel Thompson, Student and Current Alstom Employee; Nick Strickland, Student; Derren Duke, Student (Missing from Photo: Austin Bradish, Student)

By John T Ryan

Over the past several years, the Plattsburgh region has become a manufacturing hub, especially in the transportation industry. With that success, there’s a need for special skills, such as welding. On Friday, April 26, North Country Welding Academy held its third graduation ceremony at Clinton Community College’s Institute of Advanced Manufacturing (IAM). It awarded certificates of completion to 12 more graduates, bringing the program’s total graduates to 36.

L-R Lincoln Electric instructor Padraic Bean congratulates 2018 Peru High School grad Marshall Turner

Marshall Turner, a 2018 Peru High School graduate, was one of the students. A family member told him about the welding program, saying, “We could use a welder in the family.”  Turner commented, “The camaraderie among the students was the best thing about the course. The teachers gave us a lot of information in a short period. I wanted to learn a trade I could go anywhere with.”

The program is unique because grants and local support pay all student costs, including tuition, support services, stipends, transportation, and childcare assistance. Graduates even get help writing a resume and applying for a job if they ask. Students have 120 hours of instruction, one week of intense classroom training, and two weeks in the shop. Instructor Padraic Bean remarked, “We had several students in this class go from zero welding experience to passing a code quality welding exam.”

The program’s success thrilled North Country President Garry Douglas. He commented, “I’ve been with the Chamber for 32 years… I take pride in many things we’ve accomplished…, but there’s nothing I take more pride in than this program. It impacts the lives of people here in the North Country and their future ability to have meaningful and fulfilling careers.”

Douglas is also proud of the program’s partnership between the business community, the federal and state governments, and Clinton Community College. The Chamber of Commerce secured a $285,000 Northern Border Regional Commission grant for training 50 individuals in partnership with Lincoln Electric and Clinton Community College. Another $200,000 in funding, equipment, and supplies came from various agencies and organizations, such as Empire State Development’s Office of Strategic Workforce Development, the Workforce Development Institute, Assemblyman Billy Jones, and local private employers. For example, Alstom, our local commuter/subway car manufacturer, and Jeffords Steel donated $30,000 in time and equipment.

Institute of Advanced Manufacturing’s impressive shop

Along with Garry Douglas, several other business and community leaders addressed the students, family members, and friends. They included Chris Saunders (Federal Co-Chair of the Northern Border Regional Commission), Mark Henry (Chairman of the Clinton County Board of Legislators), John Kowal (Clinton Community College President), Jeff Lambert (Alstom Plattsburgh Site Manager), Joel Wood (North Country Chamber of Commerce VP of Strategic Initiatives) Jon Carman (Representing Congresswoman Elise Stefank),  and Brandon Menard (Representing Assemblyman Billy Jones). Padraic Bean, Lincoln Electric’s Weld Process Consultant, one of the course’s three teachers, presented the graduation certificates.

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Three senior players on the team collected donations to support their local Emergency Medical Services

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Speaker Heastie, Ways and Means Committee Chair Helene E. Weinstein and Children and Families Committee Chair Andrew Hevesi today announced that the Enacted State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024-25 Budget includes $350 million to ease the tax burden on families through the Supplemental Empire State Child Credit.

“This tax credit helps put money back in families’ bank accounts so that they can spend it on the everyday things they need most,” Speaker Heastie said. “The Assembly Majority is committed to putting New York families first and will continue working to find ways to support families throughout New York State so they can continue to grow and thrive.”

“Together we worked to craft a budget that would help our families, and this tax credit is a big part of that,” Assemblymember Weinstein said. “By extending this tax credit, we’ll help families by putting that money directly back into their pockets and allow them to use it in the best way for their family.”

“When we invest in families, we invest in our communities,” Assemblymember Hevesi said. “The Supplemental Empire State Child Credit will give more parents the opportunity to invest in their own families and spend that money where they need it most.”

The $350 million in the budget for the Supplemental Empire State Child Credit will help ease the tax burden on families with children, impacting 1.8 million filers across the state. Last year the credit was expanded to families with children under four years old.

Local award will also help retrofit existing school cafeterias

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Recent budget legislation uses evidence-based instruction aimed at improving proficiency

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Drug Disposal Kiosks are Available at All NY, MA and VT Pharmacy Locations

(Schenectady, N.Y.) – Ahead of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27, 2024, Price Chopper/Market 32 is issuing a reminder that each of its New York (47), Massachusetts (8) and Vermont (5) pharmacy locations offer safe and convenient year-round drug disposal services. Guests are able to access a consumer drug take-back kiosk located near the pharmacy and return expired, unused or unwanted medications during pharmacy hours, no questions asked. Since the kiosks were installed in 2023, Price Chopper/Market 32 has taken back 2,906 pounds of medication.

“Prescription and over-the-counter medications hold the power to heal but can also cause great harm if they aren’t used as prescribed or intended, are past their expiration date, or fall into the hands of someone they aren’t intended for,” said Price Chopper/Market 32 President Blaine Bringhurst. “Expanding access to safe disposal programs is one of many ways Price Chopper/Market 32 proudly takes an active role in encouraging healthy outcomes for our communities.”

Each kiosk is equipped with a secure latch, allowing guests to open and easily insert medications while also preventing the removal of items already placed inside. Unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medication, as well as pet medication, are accepted. All medications must be returned in the original dispensed packaging or in a sealed bag. Schedule I controlled substances, illegal drugs, thermometers, medical devices and needles are not accepted.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Medication Safety Program, each year 1 in every 250 Americans goes to a hospital emergency department because of an adverse drug event. To find a pharmacy location nearest you, visit the Price Chopper/Market 32 pharmacy homepage or call 1 (800) 666-7667.

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Supervisor Brandy McDonald said the road was to be closed at 2:30 p.m. until urther notice. 

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Progress continues toward the entirely new U.S. border crossing at Rouses Point and the modernization and expansion of the U.S. crossing at Trout River. The North Country Chamber helped to secure the funding for both projects in the federal Infrastructure Bill two years ago and we have actively taken part in the review process for the designs by the General Services Administration since then.

Rouses Point will feature a completely new port of entry closer to the border and including a new facility for the clearance of Amtrak passengers arriving in the U.S. from Montreal. Construction contract solicitation is now open, with construction due to begin this October.

Project design for Trout River is due for completion by late summer/early fall, with a construction start in early spring of 2025. Both projects will have a construction duration of approximately two years from their starts.

We view both projects as next steps for our longtime commitment to “Ports of Excellence” at all of the North Country’s northern border crossings which began with $170 million in facilities at Champlain twenty years ago.

Plattsburgh YMCA receives $125,000 toward new facility

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All performances are free and open to the public

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“…New Yorkers will get 20 hours of paid time off from work for healthcare appointments during pregnancy.”

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