The Peru Gazette

L-R Molly LaMountain and Karen Ricardelli

By John T Ryan 

Peru – Peru’s newest business has opened adjacent to Mountain Valley Federal Credit Union and the CFA Insurance Agency. After several weeks of remodeling and cleaning, Molly LaMountain and Karen Riccardelli opened LaMountain Riccardelli Accounting at 692 Bear Swamp Road. The women bring many years of individual and business accounting experience to our community. 

Molly LaMountain, a lifelong North Country resident, graduated from AuSable Valley Central School and Clinton Community College and then earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting at SUNY Plattsburgh. Karen Riccardelli has over thirty years of accounting experience, possesses a Masters’s Degree in Accounting, and is an Enrolled Agent Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Agent, the highest credential the IRS awards. Riccardelli is a new Peru resident and homeowner. She moved here from Connecticut, where she’s operated an accounting firm for many years. 

LaMountain and Riccardelli met through a mutual relative. Molly LaMountain explained, “First, we met over coffee to see if we liked each other. We did, so they formed a partnership on January 1 of this year. I worked for a CPA firm in Lake Placid and at a Plattsburgh firm for twenty-five years. I’ve been working from home since 2015. My kids are fifteen and seventeen, so I’m willing to take on more. Karen was moving to the area and looking to open up something. We’re both professionally in the right place at the right time.” 

The women also think they’ve located their business in the right place. Glancing at the Bear Swamp Road’s constant traffic stream, LaMountain commented, “The building was reasonably priced, eye appealing, very visible, and plenty of parking. It’s a great location for us.” Karen Riccardelli added, “One of the advantages of us being close to Plattsburgh is its two colleges. Clinton Community College has a bookkeeping program, and SUNY Plattsburgh offers a degree in taxation. We’ll be adding bookkeeping and payroll services. We’d like to have students working as interns during their college years. We plan to add two formal offices, five workstations in the back, four workstations up front, and a reception area. 

While LaMountain and Riccardelli plan on being in the office Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p. m., sometimes they could be visiting clients; therefore, they recommend making an appointment. The office phone number is 518-643-5129.

PERU – CATS HUCKLEBERRY HILL TRAIL WORK SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2023 IS CANCELED.

Unfortunately we must cancel this event due to an road acces issue. Thank you – Mike Derrick

Police said Baustert was driving on Interstate 89 in Sharon a week before Thanksgiving when she crashed her SUV, which at the time was carrying her husband and two children.

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FitzPatrick Cancer Center’s survivorship celebration part of American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life

PLATTSBURGH, NY Eat Dessert First: A Celebration of Life, the FitzPatrick Cancer Center’s (FCC) signature celebration of cancer survivorship and part of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Relay for Life, takes place Sunday, June 9 at the Clinton County Fairgrounds.

Ice cream sundaes will be offered in the Survivors Hall beginning at 4 p.m. After the Relay’s opening ceremonies, survivors are welcome to lead the walk in the first lap.

Each June, the FCC joins other cancer care organizations to honor cancer survivors and remind everyone that survivorship begins on the day of diagnosis. Read more »

Adirondack Park – A writing workshop is now available online to help young people enter the essay contest My Dreams for My Community.   North Country residents between ages 13 and 25 can win up to $400 by writing about their vision for the Adirondacks.  Submissions are due by June 15, 2023.

In a workshop recorded on May 23, Professor Shir Filler explains why we should write essays ourselves when ChatGPT can do it for us.  The bottom line:  a ChatGPT essay may be well crafted, but it’s boring.  Professor Filler’s workshop provides inspiration and leads people through a 9-step exercise to quickly draft an essay.  The free workshop is open to the public and can be accessed at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFTcSQ2yv4I

The Adirondack Center for Writing (ACW) and Adirondack Voters for Change are sponsoring this essay contest to highlight concerns of young people living in the North Country region.  Professor Filler states that “Writing is the best way I know to figure out solutions to any kind of problem. The key is that you don’t have to get it right the first time. You can rewrite and rethink until you get to a solution or idea that works for you, and then you get to share it with others and enter a conversation about the issues you care about. It’s magic!”

To submit an essay, [1] fill out this form (available on ACW website) and [2] email the essay as a PDF or Word document to info@adirondackcenterforwriting.org.

Winners will be notified in July and will read their essays at a celebration on Monday July 24.   Sponsors will award the following prizes for two age groups: $400 for First Place, $200 for Second Place, $100 for Third Place, and three Honorable Mentions.

The Adirondack Center for Writing is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that inspires the love of writing, reading, and storytelling while honoring the rich history of the Adirondacks. Read more »

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After decades-long negotiations, Franklin County has reached an agreement with New York State regarding Land Claim issues and the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe first filed a lawsuit in the 1980s against New York State regarding land purchased from the reservation by the State in the early 19^th century. In 2022, a federal judge ruled that New York State did not have the authority to purchase that land because it was not approved by Congress as required under the Non-Intercourse Act of 1790.

            Since New York State illegally purchased the land in the 1820s, local government and state leaders, including Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) when he was Chair of the Franklin County Legislature, have been working together for years to determine the next steps for this Land Claim issue. Compensation for land ownership, taxes and public services like road maintenance and water infrastructure are major concerns for local governments, which is one of the reasons why it has taken so long to reach an agreement. Jones met with Franklin County and State officials on Friday, June 2 to finalize the agreement so that Franklin County and the Towns of Bombay and Fort Covington are compensated for land and services rendered. Read more »

Click here for more information and to sign up! 

Reduced visibility and air quality possible through Tuesday

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Small Businesses with 100 or Fewer Employees May Receive Tax Credits for COVID-19-Related Costs 

Empire State Development today announced that the application deadline for Empire State Development’s (ESD) $250M COVID-19 Capital Costs Tax Credit Program has been extended to September 30, 2023. New York State small businesses that made investments to comply with emergency orders and regulations in response to COVID-19 can apply for a refundable tax credit of up to $25,000.Governor Hochul announced the launch of the program on October 25, 2022 and secured an extension of the program’s application deadline through September as part of the FY 2024 Budget.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said. “By extending the application deadline for the COVID-19 Capital Costs Tax Credit Program to September 30th, we are expanding the reach of our support, ensuring that more New York small businesses receive the financial relief they need to bounce back and thrive once again”.

Small businesses with qualifying COVID-19-related expenses are eligible for a refundable tax credit of up to $25,000 based on qualifying expenses of $50,000. Qualifying expenses are related to building upgrades, structural changes, or supplies to comply with public health or other emergency-related orders and regulations to increase public safety through infectious disease mitigation during 2021 and 2022. Expenses can also include hand sanitizer stations, supplies to disinfect against COVID-19 transmission, equipment for social distancing, air purifiers, contactless point of sale equipment and more.

Businesses independently owned and operated in the State of New York with less than 100 full-time employees and gross receipts of less than $2.5 million are eligible.

Applicants and qualifying businesses can expect the following:

• To fill out a pre-screening questionnaire to confirm their eligibility
• An online application portal available in 68 languages
• Access to multilingual application assistance via phone, text, and email
• To present proof of expenses and other supporting documents
• A tax credit certificate to submit to the Department of Taxation and Finance when filing a tax return

Applications will be open until September 30, 2023. Small businesses are encouraged to apply through the pre-screening tool. If businesses receive a tax credit certificate in 2023, they can claim the credit on their 2023 tax return.

To learn more about eligibility and qualifying expenses, visit www.esd.ny.gov/covid-19-capital-costs-tax-credit.

Remember the CVPH blood drive today, June 5, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at the St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru.

Fastening photos of Peru High School”s graduating seniors along Route 22B began during the Covid pandemic. Fortunately, the practice is continuing! Parents, family, and friends erected 130 banners on Saturday. Thanks to Jennifer Madore for the photos and congratulations to all the seniors. 

Click here for the registration website

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The 15-year-old driver- identified by loved ones as Saranac Central athlete Donavyn Smith- was critically injured in the May 29 crash. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist his parents who are out of work as they stay at his side.

Click here for the Sun Community News story

Click here for the gofundme page. 

N.Y. Environmental Protection Fund grant to help expand community engagement

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