The Peru Gazette

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Lake Champlain Residents are Encouraged to Report Any Signs of HWA, an Invasive Forest Pest

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), New York State Hemlock Initiative at Cornell University (NYSHI), and Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) today announced the confirmed presence of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) on the western shore of Lake Champlain in the Port Douglas area, Essex County, and near the north end of Great Sacandaga Lake at Conklingville Dam, Saratoga County. Following reports from concerned residents and volunteers earlier this month, DEC verified detections and follow-up visits to the sites revealed visible signs of HWA.

“Hemlocks are an important part of New York’s forests and play vital roles in our ecosystem, providing unique environmental conditions under cool, dense canopies that protect wildlife, fishery habitat, water quality, and prevent soil erosion,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Together with our partners, New York State remains committed to monitoring and responding to invasive species and encourages New Yorkers to report any detections and remain on the lookout in communities across the state to help slow the spread of HWA and other invasives in our forests, lands, and waters.” Read more »

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Governor Kathy Hochul today announced legislation S.7672A/A.6769A, a measure aimed at enhancing the cybersecurity and resilience across New York, is now in effect. First announced in Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State address, this legislation requires all municipal corporations and public authorities to report cybersecurity incidents within 72 hours and ransomware payments within 24 hours to the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES). Within 30 days of making a ransomware payment, the victim must provide the payment amount, a justification for why it was necessary and an explanation of the diligence performed to ensure the payment was lawful. This information will improve the State’s ability to address cybersecurity threats, safeguard critical infrastructure, and tackle the scourge of ransomware.

“Here in New York, we are keeping up with technology’s fast-paced evolution and are resilient in the face of cybersecurity threats,” Governor Hochul said. “This legislation strengthens our response and provides our state’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services the necessary information to handle reports of attacks and keep New Yorkers safe.”

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “New York State is leading the way in cybersecurity threat and ransomware reporting. Now that the system is operational, our teams will be better armed to protect important infrastructure and address ransomware attacks.”

Municipal corporations and public authorities may report cybersecurity incidents, notice of ransomware payments, and justification for ransomware payments to DHSES through a web portal available at https://www.dhses.ny.gov/.

Local governments, non-executive agencies and state authorities should still call the DHSES Cyber Incident Response Team hotline at 1-844-OCT-CIRT (1-844-628-2478) if they need immediate cyber incident response support.

Governor Hochul signed this legislation on June 27 after virtually convening local government officials to discuss ongoing security efforts. The legislation also mandates annual cybersecurity awareness training for government employees across New York and sets data protection standards for State-maintained information systems.

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL June  2025 minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing
6. APPLICATIONS:

1. P2025-0014 Site Plan Review;Food Truck

 Michele Belanger

280.1-5-6,  2 Gorman Way.

P2025-0015 Merge

Forrence Orchards Inc

268.-1-49 & 268.-1-35.1

307 Route 22B

 7. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS

8. CEO REPORT

9.ADJOURNMENT

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL of  June 2025 minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing
6. APPLICATIONS:

1. Z2025-014    Special Use Permit                               NY RSA2 Cellular Partnership

                             d/b/a Verizon Wireless

                                Valcour Rest Area

2. Z2025-016 Area Variance                                         Erich Lutz

Matthew Ingram

280.1-3-12

3019 Main St

7. CEO REPORT
8. ADJOURNMENT

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Peru, NY, July 27, 2025 – It has been just over a year since the Peru Zoning Board approved Tesla’s building permit. However, beginning about two weeks ago, eight Tesla EV chargers have been functioning at Peru Stewart’s Shop.

At 1:30 p.m. today, a local resident gave his Tesla Model 3 a five-minute charge on his way to a party. Tomorrow, he’ll use one of the free chargers near his workplace in the City of Plattsburgh.

At  2:40 p.m., four Tesla vehicles were being charged. One man, accompanied by two passengers, was traveling to Massachusetts after enjoying a weekend in Montreal.  A family of four was traveling to Connecticut after visiting friends in Plattsburgh.

All seven travelers were enjoying fast food purchased either at Stewart’s or at one of the restaurants on Bear Swamp Road.

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Chicken & Biscuits 

Salad 

Fruit 

Dessert 

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

All are invited and welcome!

Officials are reminding boaters of hazards in the water as lake levels drop after a boat struck a reef, damaging the hull.

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More than $45K raised through annual effort and support from the Carpenter family

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And the delays have gotten worse in recent months.

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Building nuclear will test whether New York state is still capable of constructing megaprojects as it has done in the past.

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As environmental justice groups seek to compel the state to follow its climate law, the Hochul administration is set to argue that it deserves a pass.

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State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Franklin County District Attorney Elizabeth Crawford, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced that Bridget Brown, the former treasurer of the Essex County Agricultural Society and former Willsboro town clerk/tax collector, was sentenced to serve five years probation and ordered to pay full restitution of nearly $90,000 after her conviction by guilty plea of grand larceny in the second degree and grand larceny in the third degree as a crime of public corruption for stealing funds from the society and the town.

“Bridget Brown abused the trust of multiple communities and treated public money in her care as her own to fund her lifestyle. Now she is a convicted felon and has been ordered to repay the money she stole,” DiNapoli said. “This case should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can steal from their community and get away with it. My thanks to Franklin County District Attorney Crawford and Superintendent James for their partnership in ensuring Bridget Brown was held accountable for her crimes.”

“I am thankful to the investigators who dedicated themselves to the successful prosecution of this case, which required the review and analysis of thousands of pages of records that spanned a period of theft from 2013 until 2021 between two organizations and three separate job titles that the defendant held,” Crawford said. “On the eve of the 176^th Essex County Fair, we are hopeful that defendant will pay restitution to that organization promptly. Ms. Brown stole from the public for years without remorse and now has to face the consequences of her actions.”

Executive Assistant District Attorney Alyxandra Stanczak was the prosecutor assigned to the case.

“This case is a clear example of how public corruption erodes trust and harms the very communities public servants are sworn to serve,” James said. “Ms. Brown betrayed that trust for personal gain, but thanks to the thorough investigative work and strong interagency cooperation, she is being held accountable. I thank Comptroller DiNapoli and District Attorney Crawford for their continued partnership in protecting New Yorkers from fraud and abuse.”

Brown worked for the Essex County Agricultural Society — a non-profit organization that promotes agriculture through the Essex County Fair — from 2013 to 2019. She also separately served as  Willsboro’s town clerk and tax collector from 2014 to 2021.

Brown stole approximately $60,000 from the society by padding her paychecks, making ATM withdrawals and using the society’s bank account to make personal purchases. She concocted phony business records in an attempt to cover her crimes. She took an additional $29,000 from Willsboro by pocketing residents’ payments for taxes, licenses, and landfill fees.

Brown pleaded guilty in May. She was sentenced before Judge Tatiana Coffinger in Essex County Court, who ordered Brown to pay a 10% surcharge on top of her restitution, bringing her total repayment to $97,600.

“We’ll have some preferences for folks who are homeless, but then people who are basically low and moderate income people, probably a good number of folks working will be able to come here; again, preference for the veterans”

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1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of July 14, 2025. 

5. Community Input. 

6. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval For LCLG Planning Board To Submit Application For Funding.
7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Shared Services Agreement with the Town of Jay.

8. MOTION/DISCUSSION: Vandalism at Heyworth Mason Park Porta-Potties.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Resolution Naming NBT Bank As a Depository Agency.

10. DISCUSSION: Telegraph Road Over Dry Mill Brook Culvert Project Engineering Update.

11. DISCUSSION: Other Business, Town Council.

12. DISCUSSION: Other Business, Dept. Heads.

13. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

14. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay Bills – July 2025

15. MOTION: Adjourn to Executive Session.

16. MOTION: Return from Executive Session.

17. MOTION: Adjourn. 

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