The Peru Gazette

Click here for the Lake Placid News story 

The UPS driver was Peru native and resident Corey Howe 

Click here for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise story 

October 5, 2023 – Ausable Chasm’s autumn colors are muted this week, but the Chasm is always a great place to visit. Two busloads of Saranac Lake students arrived about 10 a.m. They’ll have a great time!

The 11th Annual Octoberfest is on October 14, 2023 at the Peru Fire Dept.  Courses changed this year – it’s a 5K, 10K, and 20 mile bike.  Along with a free 1/2 mile kids fun run for 10 and under (pending enough participants). The Octoberfest is In loving memory of Robert “Chip” Hamilton and proceeds to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The bike starts at 8:30am, the kids 1/2 mile fun run at 8:45am (just after the bike departs) and 5K and 10K at 9am.

There is a post-race party with a live band – All Without The Bass along with a bounce house, face painting, food and drinks and an assortment of silent auction items.

Packet pickup is Friday, October 13, 2023 from 5-8pm at the Peru Fire Dept and race morning, Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 7-8:15am

For more information or to register visit – runoctoberfest.com

October 5, 2023 – Ausable Chasm’s autumn colors are muted this week, but the Chasm is always a great place to visit. Two busloads of Saranac Lake students arrived about 10 a.m. They’ll have a great time!

Peru, NY October 5, 2023 – If there is a perfect day for kitesurfing in the area, today had to be it. Ausable Point activity is pictured here, but undoubtedly, other areas were busy, too. At 3 p.m., it was 78 degrees with a steady, moderate wind.

Warmer than any temperature observed this August

Click here for the MYNBC5 story

Peru Gazette File Photo

North Country Honor Flight will send 28 more North Country Veterans on a lifetime trip this Saturday, October 7th. “ Thunder in the Burgh” will be the escort from Champlain Center down to the Veterans Park on the US Oval, leaving at 6:15 a.m. The send-off ceremony will start at 7 a.m. sharp; each Veteran will be recognized for their contributions and sacrifices during this ceremony. After the ceremony, a motorcade will head to the Plattsburgh International Airport, passing by all the local Fire Departments and Ambulance squads as they show their respect on New York Avenue.

These are flights number 50 and 51 for the North Country Honor Flight. There will be three Korean War Veterans, four Cold War Veterans and twenty-one Vietnam Veterans on board.

The return home is scheduled for 8:30 Saturday evening at the US Oval. The public is encouraged to attend all portions of these events; they are family-friendly and educational for the children.
We were reminded recently what this means to our Veterans. When asked what the worst part of serving in Vietnam was, one Veteran said, “Coming home, I didn’t feel my service was important by the way we were treated. “ When asked how he felt when he returned home from his Honor Flight, he stated,” For the first time, I am proud of my service and these people today let me know that what I did was important.”

Click here for the Press-Republican story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. officials have announced that their annual fundraising campaign has started. This Regional initiative, covering Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties is conducted to raise needed funds for high-priority health and human service programs in the Adirondack Region. A network of 35 partner agencies benefits from these funds annually and this extensive network has historically provided service to 80,000 people collectively each year.

On Wednesday, October 4^th, 2023, officials from the organization and volunteer campaign team members gathered to kick off the 2022 Fund Drive officially. This campaign will be conducted through the end of January 2024. At that time, the organization will begin preparing for the allocation process to invest the funds toward the highest priority needs.

Pacesetters are businesses and individuals that conduct their campaigns early to “set the pace” and encourage other donors to participate. Pacesetter results totaled $171,234.67, with some additional pacesetter results pending. John Bernardi, president and CEO, said, “We are very grateful to all of the pacesetters and supporters for giving us a healthy start toward raising these critical funds for our friends and neighbors here in the Adirondack Region.” The volunteer campaign team was also on hand to celebrate and to prepare for the months ahead. Campaign Team Members include Amy Collin, Co-Chair (Franklin), James Monty, Co-Chair (Essex); Todd McCarthy, Co-Chair (Clinton); Jody Carpenter, Sandra Young-Brady, Susan LeBlanc-Durocher, Gerald Morrow, Hannah Provost, Tony Searing, DaleAnne Wolter, Chris Mazzella (Board Chair), Shay Prentiss and Holly Black.

Bernardi highlighted the increased needs due to COVID-19 and the organization’s ALICE Report. The Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) data demonstrates the urgency caused by poverty and financial instability for hard-working families in our region.

The mission of the Organization is to be a leader in community partnership building and to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another.

PLATTSBURGH, NY – This Halloween season, dive into the eerie past like never before at the Kent-Delord House, as they host a captivating two-day event on October 28th and 29th from 4 PM to 8 PM each day. With a wealth of fascinating historical insights, thrilling activities, and spooky surprises, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Highlights Include:

• Historic Halloween Creatures: Step back in time and get up close with creatures that have haunted the imagination for centuries. Learn about the origins of Halloween’s most iconic beings.
• Celtic Traditions: Discover the ancient Celtic roots of Halloween and how they have influenced the modern celebration.
• Victorian Spirituality: Explore the intriguing world of Victorian-era spirituality, which significantly shaped Halloween as we know it today.

Extras to Enhance Your Experience:

• Costumes Welcome: Feel free to dress up and immerse yourself in the Halloween spirit. Whether you prefer a classic ghost or a modern-day superhero, it’s all in good fun.
• Creepy Photo Booth: Capture spine-tingling memories with our specially designed photo booth. Don’t forget to say “Boo!”
• Refreshments: Satisfy your taste buds with a delightful selection of seasonal treats and beverages.
• Family-Friendly: This event is perfect for all ages, and children under ten can enter for FREE, making it an excellent outing for the whole family.

Admission Details:

• Date: October 28th and 29th, 4 PM to 8 PM
• Location: Kent-Delord House, [Address]
• Admission: $10 per person (children under 10 are FREE)

Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking to embrace the Halloween spirit in a unique way, the Kent-Delord House promises an unforgettable experience. Mark your calendars for October 28th and 29th, from 4 PM to 8 PM. We can’t wait to celebrate this spooktacular season with you!

Click here for the ABC Action News story 

New York Independent Redistricting Commission Chair Jenkins and Commissioners Collado, Cuevas-Molina, Flateau, and Frazier hereby invite public input while awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeals on congressional districting by the Commission.

On June 28, 2022, a group of New York voters filed a lawsuit against the New York Independent Redistricting Commission (the “IRC” or “Commission”) in Albany County Supreme Court asking for a writ of mandamus that would direct the Commission to prepare and submit to the Legislature a second congressional districting plan and the necessary implementing legislation for such plan.

On July 13, 2023, the New York Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, granted the writ and directed the New York Independent Redistricting Commission to “commence its duties forthwith.”  That order is currently on appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, which has scheduled a hearing on the matter for November 15, 2023.  The Court of Appeals has held that although the Appellate Division’s order is stayed pending appeal, the “stay does not prohibit the IRC or its members from taking any actions.”

Accordingly, Chair Jenkins, and Commissioners Collado, Cuevas-Molina, Flateau, and Frazier are taking action to obtain public input in the event the Court of Appeals affirms that the Commission is required to submit a second congressional districting plan to the Legislature.  As the Appellate Division held, the “right to participate in the democratic process is the most essential right in our system of governance,” and the Commission process is the “means of providing a robust, fair and equitable procedure for the determination of voting districts in New York.”

Although the Commission already discharged its constitutional duty under Article III, Section 4(c)(6) to hold public hearings on proposals for the redistricting of congressional districts, Commission Chair Jenkins, and Commissioners Collado, Cuevas-Molina, Flateau, and Frazier invite members of the public to submit any additional input they may have on congressional districts while the Court of Appeals’ decision is pending.  Any input received will be available to the full Commission and all Commission staff.  The Commission remains fully constituted and fully staffed.

Should the public wish to view the congressional plans the Commission previously submitted to the Legislature, those plans can be found at https://www.nyirc.gov/plans.

Should the public wish to view the congressional plan drawn by the Special Master appointed by the Steuben County Supreme Court and used in the 2022 congressional elections, that plan can be found at https://www.latfor.state.ny.us/maps/?sec=2022_congress.

The public is invited to submit input by emailing submissions@nyirc.gov or by sending mail to Attention: Submissions, Independent Redistricting Commission, 250 Broadway, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10007.  All submissions received will be made available to all Commissioners and staff.

Click here for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise story 

Visitor spending, visitor-supported jobs, and business sales generated $20 billion in government revenues. State and local taxes alone tallied $10 billion in 2022. Each household in New York would need to be taxed an additional $1,300 to replace the visitor-generated taxes received by New York state and local governments in 2022.

New York State Tourism

• Total economic Impact was $123 billion in 2022
• Visitor spending was $79 billion in 2022, up 51% from 2021 and up 6% from 2019
• The industry generated $10billion in State and local sales tax
• U.S domestic markets increased 41% in 2022
• Canadian Travelers grew by 44% in 2022
• Tourism remains the state’s third-largest industry

“New York’s pandemic recovery has been one for the history books, and by welcoming an unprecedented 291 million visitors and generating billions of dollars in direct investment to our state, we’re writing the next chapter in our success story,” Governor Hochul said. “In the three years since the pandemic ground tourism to a halt, we have made transformative investments to uplift businesses, support workers in tourism and hospitality, and build a stronger, more welcoming New York. Now, from bustling New York City to the breathtaking Adirondack Mountains, visitors are confirming what we’ve known all along – New York is the place to be. Tourism continues to be an important driver behind our state’s economy, and my administration is committed to boosting the industry to ensure that visitors worldwide can see all that New York has to offer.”

Clinton County Tourism
Along with the state tourism spending breakdowns, the study also shows how the counties in the Adirondacks are stacking up.  Once again, Clinton County Tourism boasts some very impressive economic impact numbers for 2022, contributing greatly to overall tourism spending and to local and state sales tax. This shows that the county is a viable player in the tourism make-up of the Adirondack region:

• $189,000,000 in traveler spending (up 25% over 2021)
• $9,975,000 collected in state taxes (up 20% over 2021)
• $12,400,000 contributed to local taxes (up 13% over 2021)
• $73,200,000 in labor Income

Kristy Kennedy, Vice President of Marketing for the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau and the North Country Chamber of Commerce, which also serves as the Tourism Promotion Agency for Clinton County through I Love NY, expresses her enthusiasm, saying, “These numbers are a warm welcome for Clinton County’s tourism industry. They are a testament to the effectiveness of our ongoing marketing initiatives and underscore our robust connections with both our Canadian and domestic visitors. I am delighted to witness Clinton County’s strong performance and eagerly anticipate the promising results that 2023 is poised to deliver.”

Adirondack Region Tourism
Comprised of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Lewis and Warren Counties, the Adirondack Region also saw very strong numbers:

• $2,170,000,000 in traveler spending (up 12% over 2021)
• $116,566,000 collected in state taxes (up 14% over 2021)
• $138,159,000 contributed to local taxes (up 6% over 2021)
• $839,000,000 in direct labor income (19,063 jobs total)

“Tourism, including Canadian visitation of all kinds, continues to be a key part of our economy and the latest numbers for 2022 show a strong post-pandemic rebound that we know has grown even stronger this year,” says Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve been especially focused last year and this on heightening the return of our Canadian friends, exceeding 90% of pre-pandemic 2019 numbers this summer, and retaining the growth in downstate visitation that we attracted during the pandemic, especially from the Capital Region. This strong activity shows itself in small business recovery after 2020-21 and in sales tax revenue growth, which benefits every taxpayer and resident. Our thanks to our area’s business community for being so inviting and welcoming, to the Clinton County Legislature for its continuing partnership, and to Kristy Kennedy and Alyssa Senecal, who do amazing work conducting a very aggressive and multi-faceted marketing program to both the north and south. Onward and upward!”

Full study can be found here: https://bit.ly/3rhhIWo

The Town of Peru Town Board has scheduled a Public Hearing on Local Law # 1 known as   “Flood Damage Protection,” on October 4, 2023, at 5:45 PM, at the Peru Town Hall.