The Peru Gazette

Jessica A. Chase reportedly drove at troopers responding to a welfare check

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Motorists Should Avoid the Area Starting Early Saturday Evening (Jan. 6) and Take Alternate Routes

Closure is Required to Safely Remove a Portion of Brookside Road Overpass in New Paltz

Overpass Has Been Hit By Over-Height Trucks Nine Times in 2023

Plattekill Service Area to Close Late Saturday Afternoon

Southbound Lanes to Fully Close Jan. 13-14

The New York State Thruway Authority today announced that the northbound lanes of the Thruway (I-87) from exit 17 in Newburgh to exit 18 in New Paltz will fully shut down to all traffic at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, for at least 12 hours so a portion of the damaged Brookside Road overpass in New Paltz can be safely removed over the northbound lanes, weather permitting. The Plattekill Service Area will be closed during this operation. Motorists should seek alternate routes while this work takes place or avoid travel in the area during these times, if possible.

Closed to traffic since May, the Brookside Road overpass has been hit by over-height vehicles nine times in 2023 and 27 times since 2019. These repeated collisions have resulted in considerable damage to the steel that supports the overpass and decreased the amount of weight it can safely carry. Following regular monitoring and multiple inspections, Thruway and consulting engineers have determined the overpass should be removed in the interest of public safety.

Built in 1954, the four-span continuous four-girder bridge carries Brookside Road (milepost 74.17) over the Thruway – one lane of traffic in each direction – in the town of New Paltz in Ulster County. It had a vertical clearance is 14.2 feet, which has been reduced to 14 feet due to the multiple bridge strikes in both directions, including one on Oct. 30 when its girders above the northbound lanes was struck by a truck hauling a forklift.

To limit impacts to Thruway motorists, this work is scheduled to take place on Saturday night into Sunday morning when traffic volumes are at their lowest. As a result, all northbound lanes north of exit 17 (Newburgh – Scranton – I-84 – NY Routes 17K and 300) will close at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, and are expected to remain closed for at least 12 hours. The northbound Thruway is expected to reopen the next morning, with traffic reduced from two travel lanes to one travel lane through the construction zone.

All northbound traffic will be detoured at exit 17 in Newburgh. The detour between the exits for traffic traveling northbound is 24 miles on local roads (see map). Motorists can follow the posted detour to I-84 east, where they will travel three miles to exit 39 and turn left onto Route 9W north. After approximately 16 miles, vehicles will turn left on westbound Route 299. They will travel five miles to reenter the Thruway at interchange 18 (New Paltz – Poughkeepsie – NY Route 299).

Motorists should expect reduced speeds on Routes 9W and 299 and may encounter heavy delays. Detour signs will be posted every two to three miles along the detour. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes to avoid this area altogether.

The Authority is coordinating with state, county, and local authorities on this operation. Authority officials have briefed TRANSCOM, a coalition of 16 transportation and public service agencies in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Tandem operators and trucking associations are also being notified of the impending closure.

Variable Message Signs on the Thruway and surrounding highways will advise motorists of the upcoming work, starting Tuesday, Jan 2.

Here’s what motorists and residents should expect on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 6: Read more »

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call 

4. MOTION:  Acceptance of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of December 11, 2023.

5. Community Input. 

6. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Set Date of the Organizational Meeting of 2024 as January 8 at 5 PM.

7. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Approve Regular Meeting Schedule of 2024.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Approval to Put Cook Rd. Culvert Project Out to Bid.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:   Reappoint Richard Williams as Chairman of the Planning Board.

10. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:   Reappoint Ryan Davies as Vice Chairman of the Planning Board.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:   Reappoint James Falvo as Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

12. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:   Reappoint Sean Lukas as Vice Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

13. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:   Appoint Deputy Town Clerks.

14. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Line Item Transfers for General Fund 2023. 

15. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Line Item Transfers for Peru Sewer Fund 2023. 

16. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Line Item Transfers for Valcour Sewer Fund 2023. 

17. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Line Item Transfers for Water Fund 2023. 

18. DISCUSSION:  Other Business.

19. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

20. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay December 2023 Bills.

21. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

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Dustin Provost died Dec. 17 after suffering a ruptured bowel that became infected while he was incarcerated at the Clinton County jail. The state attorney general’s office is examining the case but has not launched a formal investigation.

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Stewart’s generous customers came through in a big way, helping the 2023 Holiday Match program raise more than $2 million for local children’s charities.

Accepting funding applications through January 31 

Customers donated more than $1 million between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day again this year. With the company match, hundreds of nonprofit children’s organizations will benefit from the $2 million that will be distributed over the next few months, serving as a big boost to communities throughout New York and Vermont.

“Even during uncertain economic times, our customers continue to amaze me with their generosity,” said Stewart’s Shops chief operating officer Chad Kiesow. “Stewart’s is a sharing company and clearly so are our loyal customers.”

Kiesow worked a shift last week at Stewart’s Round Lake Road shop in Malta to thank our partners for their hard work and dedication to making Holiday Match a perennial success.

“It is inspiring to know that we have such a great team working so hard to make Holiday Match happen,” Kiesow said. “It all starts with the caring communities and customers who support us.”

Including this year’s tally, the Stewart’s Holiday Match program has raised more than $38 million since the program started in 1986. Because Stewart’s does not charge any administrative fees, 100% of those funds are re-distributed into the community.

Last year, the program benefitted 1,939 local nonprofit children’s organizations.

Stewart’s is accepting applications for Holiday Match funds through Jan. 31. Organizations can apply online at stewartsshops.com. All applicants must be a locally based, 501c3 charitable group that benefits children.

More than 600 organizations have applied for Holiday Match this season. All funds will be distributed by the end of March.

Stewart’s, a sharing company!

O’Connell made milestones in baseball, hockey and football during his senior year at Peru High School

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Okays eight bass fishing tournaments June to August, 2024

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Gov. Hochul has signed legislation ending rabbit and coyote derbies among other contests

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$50M in capital grants for new center construction and $50M in tax credits

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Crews seek fire source in heavy smoke conditions

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Caroline Ficociello is being interviewed by WIRY’s Dave Favro

L-R Caroline Ficociello and Liz Marlow

Santa is greeting customers

December 20, 2023 – Noon to 1 PM. Santa Claus and WIRY are visiting the Peru Stewart’s Shop. Santa’s collecting for the Stewart’s Holiday Match program that benefits many local organizations. Caroline Ficociello (left) and Liz Marlow are doing a great job assisting customers.