The Peru Gazette

Barrie Finnegan accepts Spirit of Ianelli Award on behalf of the North Country Honor Flight Volunteers

Barrie Finnegan thanked Sunrise Rotary for the Award

Barrie Finnegan thanked the volunteers for their dedication. Not all the volunteers could be present for the ceremony.

Plattsburgh, Saturday, July 12 – The Sunrise Rotary Mayor’s Cup Regatta & Festival Committee has named the North Country Honor Flight as its 2025 Spirit of Ianelli Award honoree. Sunrise Rotary Club President Wanda Carroll presented the award to Barrie Finnegan, Executive Director of the North Country Honor Flight, along with other members of the organization, at the Mayor’s Cup Regatta Awards ceremony at the City Marina.

The Spirit of Ianelli Award was established in 2010 in honor of the late Mayor John Ianelli, former Mayor of the City of Plattsburgh and co-founder of the Mayor’s Cup Regatta in 1978. This honor is bestowed upon one individual or group of individuals – sailor or landlubber – who exemplifies the same “community does matter” spirit that inspired Mayor Ianelli over 45 years ago, empowering our lake community to thrive, not only on race day, but every day.

The North Country Honor Flight is a 100% volunteer-led non-profit organization dedicated to honoring local veterans by providing them with free trips to visit our nation’s war memorials in Washington, D.C. Flights began in 2013 and to date 61 Honor Flights have taken over 900 veterans to Washington, D.C. These trips offer veterans the opportunity to reflect on their service, bond with fellow service members and receive recognition for their service.

Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary has been a proud supporter of the North Country Honor Flight from the beginning. In addition, several past and current Sunrise Rotarians are veterans and have made the trip to Washington, D.C. along with fellow service members. Sunrise Rotarian found their stories and memories of the day to be extremely powerful and very moving.

Past honorees of the Spirit of Ianelli Award include:

2024 – Mike Collin

2023 – Mia Taylor

2022- Julia Devine and Amy Guglielmo

2021 – Thom and Betty Loreman

2020 – Local Frontline Essential Workers

2019 – The Plattsburgh Air Park Restoration Group of Volunteers

2018 – Leigh and Stephens Mundy

2017 – Janet Duprey

2016 – Gordie Little

2015 – Local Law Enforcement of Clinton County, NY

2014 – Kit and Sally Booth

2013 – Bob Wallet

2012 – Roger Harwood

2011 – Matt Spiegel

2010 – Bob Pooler

**

Roughly 70% of the state’s farms carry no crop insurance, according to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture.

Click here for the VTDigger story 

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Trail Closed to Protect Public Safety due to the presence of a bull moose

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today reminds hikers the temporary closure of the Goodman Mountain trail in the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest in the town of Tupper Lake, remains in effect,

DEC staff, accompanied by the New York State wildlife veterinarian, conducted a site visit to Goodman Mountain on July 10. The same moose continues to reside on or near the trail and continues to demonstrate unusual behaviors. It is suspected that this moose may have an underlying illness influencing behavior as it continues to remain on or near the trail and is not responsive to attempts to move it off the trail.  Based on these observations, and the terrain, the trail will remain closed to protect the moose and ensure public safety in the event of a close encounter with the public.  Moose are large animals, and while no signs of aggression have been observed, moose can be dangerous if approached too closely.

DEC Wildlife experts continue to monitor the situation closely, and Forest Rangers will be actively enforcing the closure. The trail will remain closed until DEC determines it is safe to reopen. An update will be issued at that time.

Signage is posted at trailheads and access points, and visitors are urged to seek alternative hiking destinations in the region.

For more information about the closure, contact DEC Region 6 Office of Natural Resources at (315) 785-2263.

Assemblyman Jones presents a NYS Assembly Resolution honoring Abby for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout

Scouts and Leaders at today’s ceremony

City of Plattsburgh Mayor Wendell Hughes

Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman

Abby pins her mom Christine

A pin for her dad Gerry, a longtime time Scout leader

July 12, 2025 – West Chazy, N Y – Family, friends, community leaders, and members of Scouting America Troop 8039 gathered today at the North Country Veterans Association for the Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony for Abigail Eagan. A former Girl Scout, Abigail joined Troop 8039 in 2014 and has worked diligently to develop her skills. She is now the first female Eagle Scout in the Adirondack District.  When Abby turned 18 she became an Assistant Scout Master .

Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is not unusual in the Eagan family, as Abigail followed in the footsteps of her brother, Caleb, and her father, Gerry. An honors graduate of Beekmantown High School (ranking #2 in her class) in 2025, Abigail plans to attend SUNY Plattsburgh to major in nursing. 

Assemblyman Billy Jones, City of Plattsburgh Mayor Wendell Hughes, and Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman congratulated Abigail on her achievement and presented her with a certificate of recognition. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and State Senator Dan Stec also sent their congratulations along with a resolution.

Troop 8039 leaders commended Abigail for her personal and leadership qualities. For her Eagle Scout project, she constructed a lean-to at the North Country Veterans Association over four days, with the help of numerous volunteers.

Please take a moment to watch the impressive Scouting America Circle of Honor Ceremony.

YouTube Video of July 12, 2025 Eagle Scout Court of Honor Ceremony

Good News for Lake Champlain too 

Click here for the MYNBC5 Story 

Click here for the VTDigger story 

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; Banking Reports, and JCEO);

5. MOTION: Acceptance of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of June 23, 2025

6. Community Input. 

7. DISCUSSION: Approval for Girl Scouts to Build a Little Lending Library for Lapham Mills Park. 

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Shared Services Contract with the Town of Schuyler Falls

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Shared Services Contract with the Town of Dannemora.

10. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval of Triangle Electric’s Pay App. #2 for Peru WWTP Project. 

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Purchase of SCAG Turf Tiger 38 HP Mower.

12. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Declaring the Water/Sewer Dept’s 2006 Ford F-350 as Surplus Equipment.

13. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Acceptance of Resignation of Matt Houser from Water/Sewer Dept.

14. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Approval to Post W/S Maintenance Position Vacancy.

15. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Appointment of Sean Masten as New Assessor.

16. DISCUSSION: Telegraph Road Culvert Project Engineering Update. 

17. DISCUSSION: Other Business: Council Comments

18. DISCUSSION: Other Business: Department Head Comments.

19. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

20. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Pay July 2025 Bills.

21. MOTION: Adjourn to Executive Session.

22. MOTION: Return from Executive Session. 

23. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here to see the VTDigger story 

Click here for the Mid Hudson News story 

All New York’s GOP Congressional Representatives Voted for These Cuts

July 11, 2035 – Gov. Hochul News Release – Governor Kathy Hochul today released new data showing the devastating impacts of the Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill” on New York State. The data show the enormous scale of the recently-enacted law, including draconian cuts to Medicaid, hospitals and SNAP benefits, and the impact of those cuts on the millions of New Yorkers who rely on these lifeline programs and services. 

“I’ve been very clear: no state can fully undo the damage in this bill or backfill cuts of this scale,” Governor Hochul said. “I’m working with the Legislature to brace for the impact and protect as many New Yorkers as possible because your family is my fight. I will never turn my back on New Yorkers or the values that we share.”

Essential Plan/Medicaid Cuts

Republicans’ cuts to health care and other benefits will hurt all New Yorkers. The changes will eliminate insurance coverage for millions of New Yorkers, destabilize health insurance programs statewide, and have an overall fiscal impact on the State and the New York health care system of almost $13 billion per year. These changes will make it harder for providers statewide to keep operating, making it more difficult for all New Yorkers to find care when they need it.

• More than 2 million New Yorkers will lose their current insurance coverage, including approximately 730,000 lawfully-present non-citizens who could lose Essential Plan (EP) coverage as over half of EP’s budget — $7.5 billion in federal funding — is eliminated, and a further 1.3 million New Yorkers who will lose Medicaid coverage due to new eligibility and verification hurdles.
• Of these 2 million people, 1.5 million New Yorkers are anticipated to become uninsured, with uncompensated care costs to hospitals and providers estimated to rise to over $3 billion annually — which means less access to care and higher medical bills for New Yorkers.
• Analysis from the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) and the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) estimates a total $8 billion in annual cuts to New York’s hospitals and health systems, which could force hospitals to curtail critically needed services such as maternity care and psychiatric treatment, not to mention to downsize operations, and even close entirely. These consequences will not only affect Medicaid enrollees, but also harm everyone who requires hospital care, leading to longer wait times and less access to critical services.

The size and scope of the Rural Transformation Fund included in the law — an average of $10 billion annually for 5 years for rural hospitals nationwide — is wholly inadequate to meet the needs of our State. Adding insult to injury, none of these funds are guaranteed to reach any New York State hospital. 

SNAP and Nutrition Assistance Read more »

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Funding has been available every year since 2002 

Copy of Letter Available Here

Governor Kathy Hochul issued a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging the Department to make funding available to state and local governments through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) as has been done every year since 2002.

HSGP provides states, local jurisdictions and their law enforcement, public safety, homeland security and emergency management officials with critical resources to further their preparedness and response capabilities. Without these resources, first responders and frontline emergency management operation teams will be unable to access state-of-the-art training, the latest advancements in equipment and the ability to seamlessly share and analyze intelligence with each other.

As the threat of terrorism increases amid the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, it is essential that the federal government ensures the availability of funding for all essential components of counterterrorism efforts.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Secretary Noem: Read more »

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the NCPR story