The Peru Gazette

Saturday, 01:00 pm – 02:30 pm    Parade – Theme “25 years of Commemorations” Cumberland Ave, City Hall Place to Durkee Street

PLATTSBURH, NY – As anticipation builds and the countdown to September 7th begins, the heart of downtown Plattsburgh is poised to burst into life with the vibrant celebration of one of its most cherished historical events – the 25th consecutive Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration. The dedicated members of the 1814 Commemoration committee have been tirelessly working in collaboration with local community groups, businesses, and musicians to ensure that this year’s commemoration is nothing short of spectacular. 

The event schedule promises diverse activities that will captivate families and history enthusiasts alike. The Battle of Plattsburgh weekend commences on Thursday, September 7th, with a solemn memorial ceremony at Riverside Cemetery and an enchanting evening concert by the United States Navy Band. Friday ushers in more ceremonies in the morning, followed by a day and evening filled with live music and entertainment, including a captivating concert featuring the renowned “Glengarry Bhoys” and culminating with the breathtaking “Rockets’ Red Glare” fireworks display. 

The excitement doesn’t stop there, as Saturday and Sunday offer a jam-packed itinerary with events, music, and activities. Highlights include the beloved Children’s Old Time Village Fair and the ever-popular BOP Parade and Beat Retreat. Returning this year are live period reenactments and the grand spectacle of the “Grand Encampment,” where period reenactors bring history to life through captivating exhibits and military demonstrations. 

Following the initial ceremonies and concerts on Thursday and Friday, the Battle of Plattsburgh event schedule is booked solid with activities running from 4:00 pm on Friday, September 8th, through Sunday afternoon, September 10th, culminating in the Final Ceremony on Monday, September 11th, at 11:00 am on Crab Island. Community members will have the unique opportunity to witness history come alive through riveting reenactments, informative demonstrations, and engaging history talks. Many beloved Battle of Plattsburgh traditions return this year, including the grand parade, the enchanting Children’s Old Time Village Fair, moving ceremonies, electrifying fireworks, an invigorating 5K run, and so much more. 

For additional information and updates about the 2023 Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration, please visit our website at www.1814inc.com. Don’t miss out on this historic extravaganza! 

The Peru Gazette nominates Andrew Lauzon as Peru’s Citizen of the Day. This morning, riding his bike and carrying a trash picker, Andrew picked up trash along Pleasant Street. He said he does it whenever he sees a need. We applaud Andrew for his community spirit, work ethic, and friendliness!

Peru is one of the many communities featured in “Lake Champlain Monuments and Memorials.”

Anastasia and her five previous books

By John T. Ryan

August 31, 2023, Peru – Anastasia Pratt has accomplished many things since graduating from Peru High School in 1994. Many people know her service as Clinton County Historian; others as an accomplished bass player, vocalist, and member of several area musical groups. SUNY Empire State University students know her as a history professor. Her love of history led Anastasia to author five books between 2014 – 2016. On July 1, Arcadia Publishing released her latest book, “Lake Champlain Monuments and Memorials.” 

The book is one of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series, celebrating the History of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Its 128 pages feature 200 captioned black and white photos of memorials and markers on both sides of Lake Champlain from the Canadian Border to as far south as Glens Falls. Anastasia quoted a Lake Champlain Basin Program statement, “The history of the region is inseparable from the lake.” Peru, NY, Anastasia’s hometown, is the location of several of the nation’s most historic places, such as Valcour Island. 

Anastasia’s interest in our region has its roots on Lake Champlain’s eastern shores. The book’s sources include local historians, historical newspapers, diaries, letters, published histories, her parents, and her Vermont relatives who have a keen interest in local History. Sometimes, deciding what to include in the book wasn’t easy. Anastasia explained, “I easily had four times as many photos as what I used. Part of my decision on whether or not to use a photo depended on how much good information I could find. Sometimes, I’d see a monument I loved, but there wasn’t enough information to go forward.”

Research, organizing, compiling, and then committing history to the written form requires deep devotion to History. It begs the question, Why is history important? Anastasia expressed her opinion eloquently, “I think we don’t know who we are unless we have some understanding of who came before us and have a sense that there were people before us who were doing things similar to what we’re doing. It helps us grow, move forward, and succeed.” She compared the development of water power that powered Peru’s Hayworth/Mason Mill three or four generations ago to the Hamilton family’s current goal of developing a solar farm. She asked, “Would you be opposed to that mill? Having that historical knowledge can make a difference in our lives.” 

Anastasia’s experiences at Peru High School have also influenced her life. Asked if she had special teachers, she quickly named history teacher Dick Bulriss. “He was an amazing teacher. He made history come alive. I joke about it, but it’s true: everything I learned about American History I learned in his classroom. I went to college and graduate school, but the foundation for everything was there.” Her college education includes a BA in history at SUNY Plattsburgh and a Ph.D. in history at the University of Michigan. 

“Lake Champlain Monuments and Memorials” can be found at Bookburgh in Champlain Centre and the Route 3 Kinney’s Drug store.

Anastasia Pratt’s earlier books include “Clinton County” (Arcadia Publishing 2014), “Public History, Adult Students and the Community” University Press of New England 2014), “Plattsburgh Through Time” (Foothill Media 2015), “Remarkable Women of Clinton County” (The History Press 2015) and “Constructing and Preserving History Through Community Art Projects” (Routledge 2016). She donates all her book’s royalties to local historical societies.

Playing the bass is Anastasia’s way to relax.

Wastewater Treatment plant

Wastewater Treatment Plant

Water-Sewer-Parks department Garage

By John T. Ryan 

Peru – Peru recently completed a much-needed multi-million dollar upgrade to its sewage collection system; however, there’s more work to come. Planning is well underway for a state-mandated upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant. The primary focus will be installing a UV disinfection system to bring coliform counts into conformance with effluent disinfection requirements. Planned improvements would also reduce phosphorus levels, replace or repair 30-year-old processing equipment, repair existing roofs, provide lab space, and upgrade the department’s work environment. If the plans are approved, it is estimated to cost $25.5 million. The town has secured grants totaling $2.9 million from the NYS Water Quality Improvement program and applied for $18.5 million, including a $11.4 million IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) grant. If all goes as planned, construction will begin in 2026. 

Water/Sewer Parks Superintendent Courtney Tetrault commented, “The town built its current water treatment plant in the mid-90s with no debt to the taxpayers. Right now, we qualify for hardship funding. We want to maximize the funds we can get with available grants.” Supervisor Brandy McDonald added, “If we don’t get the grants, we will have to scale back to the minimum.” One of the town’s primary challenges is the sewer district’s relatively small size, with just under 600 users having to pay for the project.  

Tetrault’s staff currently operates in a decades-old Cross Street building that once housed the highway department. Tetreault said it needs more storage, the offices are cramped, and there are no lockers or showers. It’s common for an employee to go home driving his/her personal vehicle to clean up after working on a sewer line break.

The project will include a building outfitted with equipment to retreat wastewater before it undergoes UV disinfection. Tetrault would like to move his offices and personnel to administrative offices in that building. The building would incorporate a locker room, showers, and a five-bay garage to house the department’s trucks. He would use the Cross Street building for storage. 

Blood collected stays in North Country region 

PLATTSBURGH, NY (8/29/2023) – The Adirondack Regional Blood Center, a program of the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) has scheduled a number of community blood drives in September.

• Thursday, September 7, Holy Name Church Hall, AuSable Forks, 4 to 7 p.m.
• Friday, September 8, Clinton County ARC, New York Road, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Thursday, September 14, Long Lake Town Hall, noon to 3 p.m.
• Monday, September 18, Champlain EMS station co-sponsored by Knights of Columbus, 3 to 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 19, Altona Fire Department, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 20, St. Lawrence County Human Services Center, Canton, noon to 3 p.m.
• Thursday, September 21, Saranac Lake EMS Station, 2 to 6 p.m.
• Friday, September 22, Surgical Pain Center of the Adirondacks, Tom Miller Road, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Monday, September 25, West Chazy Fire Department, 4 to 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 26, Brushton-Moira American Legion, Moira, 4 to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 27, Plattsburgh State University, Angell Center, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Thursday, September 28, Beekmantown Fire Department, 4 to 7 p.m.
• Friday, September 29, Burke Adult Center, 9 to 11 a.m.

The Donor Center, located at 85 Plaza Blvd, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.

Blood collected by the Adirondack Regional Blood Center stays in the North Country, helping hundreds of people in this region. Its success rests on the generosity of donors and sponsors.

A donor card or another form of identification is required to give. Learn more about the Adirondack Regional Blood Center, giving blood and becoming a sponsor at UVMHealth.org/GiveBlood or call (518) 562-7406.

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August 29, 2023

The Town of Peru Town Board has scheduled a Public Hearing on a Local Law to Override the Tax Levy Limit Established in General Municipal Law 3-c. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 11, 2023 at 5:45 PM, at the Peru Town Hall.

Editor’s Note – The Town Board states that it plans to stay within the tax levy limit but wants to have this authority in place if it should become essential.

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13% increase over previous year 

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20 MW energy storage project in Franklin County relieves transmission constraints

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AUGUST 28 @ 6:00 PM

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; JCEO; and Banking Reports.

5. MOTION:  Acceptance of Minutes for the Regular Meeting Minutes of July 24, Special Meeting Minutes of August 14, and August 22, 2023.

6. Community Input.

7. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Approving the 2007 International Model 7400 Sale 

at Auctions Int’l Site. 

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Accepting the Resignation of Alison Hulbert-Bruce from the Planning Board as of August 7, 2023.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approving the Purchase of Town of AuSable’s 2012 Western Star SB Tandem Truck.

10. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Call for A Public Hearing on 9/11/23 at 5:45 to Exceed the Tax Levy Limit Established in General Municipal Law §3-C as a Precautionary Measure.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Accepting the Clinton County Assessor Contract.

12. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval to Order New 2025 Freightliner 114SD Plus Dump Truck and Plow Gear.

13. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Cook Rd. Culvert Structure. 

14. DISCUSSION/MOTION:  Set up Workshop for Supplemental Water Sources on September 11 at 4:30.

15. DISCUSSION: Stop Light at the Intersection of Route 22 and Main St. 

16. DISCUSSION:  Other Business.

17. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

18. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay August 2023 Bills.

19. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

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Benefit car show will see a return of its Main Street parade

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The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) reminds residents to look for ticks throughout the summer and fall seasons. Ticks can spread diseases that make people and pets very sick. They are most often found in shady, moist areas at ground level. They cling to tall grass, brush and shrubs, usually no more than 18-24 inches off the ground. They also live in lawns and gardens, especially at the edges of woods and around old stone walls. Ticks can enter your yard through woods, tall grass, small animals, or birds. “We have already seen over 100 cases of anaplasmosis, babesiosis, or Lyme disease (all tick-related illnesses) in Clinton County residents this year alone,” stated Nichole Louis, Supervising Public Health Nurse in the Division of Health Care Services at CCHD. “With several months left in our known tick season, we are on track to see more cases than we did in 2022.”

“The first step in preventing tick-related illness is to avoid ticks and the places we know they like to be,” explained Molly Flynn, Principal Public Health Educator in the Division of Health Planning & Promotion at the CCHD. “When possible, stay away from places where ticks are normally found. If you are walking, hiking or biking, stay toward the center of the path and avoid dense woods and bushy areas.”

Other prevention measures include the use an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) approved insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon, eucalyptus or 2-undecanone.  Cover your skin as much as possible. Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.  Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.  Treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Never apply permethrin directly to the skin. Cover baby carriers and strollers with mosquito netting.  Stay away from animal nests and teach children to do the same. “Even with your best prevention efforts, you may still come in contact with ticks. Make frequent tick checks routine for everyone in your family—including pets,” stated Ms. Flynn. She cautioned, “Pets that spend time outdoors can bring ticks indoors, putting you at risk, even if you haven’t spent time outdoors yourself.”

Tick checks should include key areas ticks like to hide, such as under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and on the hairline and scalp. Taking a shower as soon as possible after spending time outdoors can also help to wash away unattached ticks. If spending time outdoors, check for ticks frequently so you can remove them before they have a chance to bite you or your family members.

Visit our website at www.clintonhealth.org or connect with us on Facebook (@clintonhealth), X [Twitter (@ClintonCountyHD)], and Instagram (clintoncountyhealth). ###

Executive order directs state agencies to buy 30% of their food from New York state farms and food producers by 2028.

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