Peru, NY, November 24, 2025 – On Wednesday, November 19, the Peru Town Board held a Special Meeting aimed at approving the final budget for 2026. Instead, the board, including the supervisor, voted to forgo their planned 3% salary increase. Although this decision is largely symbolic in the context of the town’s $2 million General Budget, the board wanted to convey a message of solidarity with taxpayers. In 2026, Town Board members will receive $9,639, while the Town Supervisor will earn $34,020.
Supervisor Craig Randall noted that the Final Budget will exceed the state-mandated 2% tax cap by approximately $150,000, mainly due to rising health insurance costs, increases in retirement fund contributions, difficulty in forecasting sales tax revenues, and necessary culvert repairs. Property owners in the water and sewer district will experience a slight tax decrease, as the town completed payment on a long-term bond this year. However, this reduction is expected to be temporary due to ongoing upgrades at both the wastewater treatment plant and planned upgrades at the water treatment plant.
The General Budget encompasses various expenses, including payments for the town board and supervisor, administrative support, the town clerk/tax collector, codes and zoning, youth programs, parks, town library, town court, and the highway superintendent’s, deputy superintendent’s salaries and more. The operating expenses for the Highway Department are accounted for in the highway department budget.
The tax rates for 2026 are as follows:
– Town General: $1.69/M, compared to $1.43/M in 2025.
– Town Highway: $1.80/M, compared to $1.73/M in 2025.
– Town Water #1, #2, #3: $0.86/M, compared to $1.03/M in 2025.
– Town Sewer #1: $1.54/M, compared to $1.97/M in 2025.
Although tax rates are steady or even lower, this can be misleading given the historical increases in assessed property values. The total taxable value of property in Peru rose from $641,811,736 last year to $662,288,572, reflecting an increase of about $20.5 million. The General Budget anticipates $1.2 million in property taxes, while the Highway Budget expects $1.297 million.
The board approved two minor budget changes at its November 24 meeting. They will be detailed in the Peru Gazette’s meeting story.
11/24/25 9:30 P.M. The Gazette described the General Budget in greater detail.
Click here to view a previous Peru Gazette story on the 2026 budget. It includes a link to the full Preliminary Budget which differs little from the Final Budget.
Posted: November 24th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, General News, Northern NY News, Peru News, Town Board News.
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1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of November 10, 2025 and Public Hearing of November 19, 2025.
5. Community Input.
6. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Filing of TE-9a or Speed Reduction Form on Fox
Farm Rd.
7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Amend Resolution for JCAP Grant Request Amount.
8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approve Payment to Resident for Damages Due to Plugged
Sewer Manhole Issue.
9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Compensating Town Justice Scott Thurber for
Covering Judge Kirby’s Court.
10. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: 202-b Order for the Peru Water Treatment Facilities Upgrade.
11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Bond Resolution for the Peru Water Treatment Facilities
Upgrade.
12. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Hiring of Brooks Investigations LLC for Court Security.
13. DISCUSSION: Telegraph Road Over Dry Mill Brook Culvert Project Engineering Update.
14. DISCUSSION: Other Business, Town Council.
15. DISCUSSION: Other Business, Dept. Heads.
16. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.
17. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Pay Bills – November 2025
18. MOTION: Adjourn to Executive Session.
19. MOTION: Return from Executive Session.
20. MOTION: Adjourn.
Posted: November 24th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Northern NY News, Peru News, Town Board News.
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Lisa Pent, founder of PentEdge, a technology-based financial advising company, advocates for establishing similar businesses in the Adirondacks
Click here for the Adirondack Explore story
Posted: November 24th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Business News, Northern NY News, Opinion.
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Peru, November 23, 2025 – On September 22, 2025, The Gazette posted a video and story describing Adirondack Farms’ use of drones to plant winter rye seeds in the midst of its corn fields. The rye is prospering as you’ll see in this November 22 video. It poked through the soil several weeks ago. Click here to view the YouTube Video.
Here’s the September 22 story.
By John T Ryan
“What in the world is happening?” I asked myself this morning as I approached a pickup truck-trailer towing a platform and a grain bin. Then I saw the largest drone I’ve ever seen land on the platform. Drone operator Alex Menard stated, “I’m planning a cover crop.”
Adirondack Farms co-owner Jon Rulfs explained, “We bought two drones this year. We’re planting approximately 1,500 acres of winter rye, with drones planting many of those acres. If we plant after harvesting a crop, we use a seed drill.” Before drones, small airplanes dropped the seed.
Rulfs noted that cover crops, such as winter rye, help reduce erosion, especially on sloped fields, while also helping the soil retain fertilizer and capture nutrients. He added that Adirondack Farms plants about 7,000 acres of corn in Peru and at its Moffitt Road farms in Plattsburgh.
Posted: November 23rd, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Agricultural News, Business News, General News, Northern NY News, Peru News.
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The St. Augustine’s Community Meal/Soup Kitchen will not serve a meal this week. Several volunteer cooks are traveling to visit families or have families visiting. Last week, they served 354 Thanksgiving dinners. They hope everyone enjoyed the meals and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted: November 23rd, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Community Events, Northern NY News, Peru News.
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Students from around New York and Vermont met at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake for this year’s Adirondack Youth Climate Summit
Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story
Posted: November 23rd, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Education News, Environmental News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History.
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Marjorie Meyer MD.
Cheung Wong, MD
Susan Rech MD
Improving access and offering specialize care supports team’s commitment to providing quality care closer to hom
Nov. 19, 2025, Plattsburgh, NY – With several new providers, expanded hours and additional clinic space, CVPH OB-GYN is making it easier for women and families across the region to get the care they need.
Over the past few months, the practice has welcomed David Coggin-Carr, MD, Ashley LaForest, PA, Marjorie Meyer, MD, Sue Rech, MD, Jessica Scott, NP and Cheung Wong, MD. They join the dynamic team of physicians, midwives, nurse practitioners and support staff at CVPH OB-GYN including: Teddi Bachawaty, MD, Caroline Hamel, MD, Manal El Daouk, MD, Molly Mentzer, MD, Julia Marsala, MD, Delaney Osborn, MD, Rebecca Parad, MD, Kayla Rumack, MD, Jessica Veltkamp, MD, Karen Case, CNM, Linda Johnston, CNM and Bridget Sarazen, CNM.
As a gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Wong specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian, uterine, cervical and vulva cancers. Maternal fetal medicine specialists Drs. Coggin-Carr and Meyer provide care for pregnant women who may have existing health problems, like high blood pressure or diabetes or complications during pregnancy.
“This growth allows us to care for more patients without delay and provide advanced OB-GYN services locally, strengthening the connection between our team and the community,” noted Dr. Bachawaty, who leads the CVPH OB-GYN site.
“Our skilled clinicians at CVPH are working hard to improve access for patients in need. They deliver excellent, compassionate care with a focus on the individual patient and their unique situation. The new providers joining the team will augment these efforts,” said Jeffrey Peipert, MD, OB-GYN Department Chair of University of Vermont Health.
Weekend, Evening Appointments
The team has expanded their schedules to include weekend and evening appointment hours for gynecology patients. Bobbie Belrose, CVPH OB-GYN practice supervisor said the extended hours offer patients additional appointment options and allows more patients to be seen sooner.
The practice has also added additional exam rooms in space located across from the current office at Suite 105 in 206 Cornelia Street. Belrose explained that the expansion supports the team’s commitment to ensuring timely access and enhancing convenience.
“Our goal is and always will be to give each person we care for the highest quality care – care that meets their needs. We’ve been through a period of extraordinary growth and our team has done its best to keep pace. The addition of these new members to the team, the additional space and everyone’s commitment to our patients is making a difference,” explained Belrose.
Posted: November 22nd, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, City News, General News, Heathcare News, Northern NY News.
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Peru High School teacher Rich Hathaway
Institute for Advanced Manufacturing
Don and Diane Haight
Isaac, Rich and Kristi Hathaway
A beautiful sight, indeed!
If someone has a name for this individual please email me at perugazette@gmail.com
Saturday, Nov. 2025 – Plattsburgh – The sun shined and atmosphere was casual and joyous this morning at 8:40 a.m. at the Regional Food Bank Thanksgiving Meal Distribution at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at the Clinton Community College’s former Campus. More volunteers than expected arrived at 7 a.m.. By 8:15 a.m., they had 350 Thanksgiving meals bagged outside the Institute for distribution, on a first-come, first-served basis. Distribution started at 9:15 a.m., when the vehicle line-up wasn’t long, but traffic flow was continuous. Distribution was to continue until all the meal supply was exhausted.
Several Peru residents were present, including members of the Peru Lions Club and others who just wanted to help out. Kristi Hathaway said a flyer circulated at Peru Central on Friday seeking volunteers. Don and Diane Haight said they were there as members of the Interfaith Food Shelf.
This year, the Regional Food Bank, with the help of 2,500 community volunteers, will provide the largest single-day Thanksgiving Meal Distribution in New York State, handing out 350,000 meals, serving 75,000 people at 21 distribution sites across the 23 counties in the Food Bank’s service area.
Read the Peru Gazette’s first and more detailed story on this Regional Food Bank program here.
(Photo Provided) Peru Lions Club members and spouses. (L-R) Dave Dalton, Dave Jabaut, Larry Shanley, Dennis & Kathy Carrier, Clare Dalton, Jim Kieslich
Local community leaders turned out to support teh volunteers – L-R Don Deragon, Mark Henry, Judy Baughn, Michael Cashman, Billy Jones and Paul Lamoy.
Posted: November 22nd, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Community Events, General News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History, Upstate New York.
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L-R St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 Deputy Grand Knight Gordon Santor, Peru Intermediate School Nurse Melissa Dupras, and Council Coats For Kids Chairman John Ryan
Peru, November 21, 2025 – St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 has been bringing new children’s winter coats to Peru Central’s Primary and Intermediate Schools since 2013. Then, last year school nurses said they had another need – winter boots, so the knights responded by bringing 12 pairs of boys’ and girls’ boots. This year, they brought 16 pairs of boots and six jackets. When LuAnn Santor, an officer in the Catholic Daughters at St. Augustine’s Parish, learned that her husband, Gordon (Gordy), was going to the school, she asked, “Would you bring knitted hats that Crafters For Charity and others donated to the Catholic Daughters?” There were dozens of hats. School nurses say they will have everything available on teachers’ conference day and anytime students need them. As outside temperatures drop, the need will grow.
Since 2013, the Peru Knights have delivered 281 jackets and 28 pairs of boots to Peru Elementary School. Councils in the United States and Canada have distributed over 1.8 million jackets since the Coats For Kids program’s inception in 2009.
Posted: November 21st, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Charity Events, Education News, Faces of Peru, General News, Northern NY News, Peru News, Peru School News, Service Org News.
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New 106,000-Square-Foot Facility to Support Growing Enrollment and Program Offerings
Champlain Valley Educational Services (CVES) BOCES today announced plans for a major facility expansion in Essex County to meet the growing demand for educational programs and services. The proposed new building will replace the current CVES Mineville campus, originally built in 1969, and will provide expanded capacity for Career & Technical Education (CTE) and Special Education programs.
Over the past several years, enrollment at the CVES BOCES Essex campus has more than doubled, pushing the 55,000-square-foot facility to maximum capacity. With no available space to grow and faced with financial demands for facility maintenance on the current building, CVES BOCES is moving forward with plans to construct a modern, 106,000-square-foot building within approximately one mile of the current location in the Town of Moriah.
“This project represents an exciting and necessary step forward for CVES BOCES and the students and communities we serve,” said Dr. Mark Davey, District Superintendent of CVES BOCES. “As we align our work with New York Inspires and our regional Portrait of a Graduate, this expansion embodies our shared commitment to reimagining learning for the next generation. Our students deserve high-quality, future-ready environments that promote innovation, collaboration, and hands-on learning. This project will allow us to meet the growing enrollment needs and expand access to Career & Technical Education and specialized programs that prepare students for success in college, careers, and life — while strengthening our North Country workforce and communities.”
The project will not only replace an aging 1969 structure but will also provide new opportunities for instructional innovation and community partnerships.
Dr. Eric Bell, Deputy Superintendent of CVES BOCES, added, “Our programs have outgrown our current space, and this expansion will open the door to new possibilities. Moreover, the costs of maintaining the current facility for another decade would far exceed the value we’d gain. Building new through this lease agreement allows us to provide students with state-of-the-art learning spaces at a significantly lower cost per square foot, and because the lease is 100% aidable through BOCES, it’s an efficient and responsible solution for our districts and taxpayers. This is an investment in both education and the future of our region’s workforce.”
Project Timeline
- Design Phase: November 2025 – September 2026
- Submission to NYSED for Review: January 2026
- Groundbreaking: Fall 2026
- Opening of New Building: July 2028
The new facility will be developed through a lease agreement with the Community Initiatives Development Corporation (CIDC), following the same successful arrangement used for the new CVES CTE Center in Plattsburgh. Preliminary financial estimates for a 20-year lease project a year one cost of $3.1 million, shared among CVES BOCES’ 16 component districts. New York State will reimburse districts more than $2 million of this amount through BOCES aid.
The Town of Moriah and Essex County leadership have been strong partners of CVES throughout this process. “This project is a win for our community and for our young people,” said Matthew Brassard, Supervisor of the Town of Moriah. “Education is the foundation of a strong local economy, and we’re proud to support CVES BOCES as they invest in a modern facility right here in Moriah. The new building will not only enhance educational opportunities but also strengthen our town’s connection to regional workforce development and economic development.”
Once completed, the modernized campus will enhance learning environments, allow for expanded CTE programming, and increase capacity for specialized education services—ensuring that CVES BOCES continues to meet the evolving educational and workforce needs of the region.
“The CVES Mineville campus has long been a cornerstone of opportunity for students in Essex County,” said Dr. Davey. “This new facility represents an exciting investment in our region’s future. It will support the next generation of learners in developing the essential skills, mindsets, and experiences for decades to come. Together with our districts, communities, and partners, we are building pathways that inspire every student to achieve their full potential.”
The existing CVES Mineville Campus building will be sold as part of the overall facility plan once the new campus is operational.
Posted: November 21st, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Business News, Education News, General News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History.
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Posted: November 21st, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Business News, Education News, Environmental News, Northern NY News.
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Posted: November 20th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Border News, Business News, Community Events, Education News, Environmental News, National History, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History, Upstate New York.
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NYS News Release, Nov. 20, 2025 – Albany – Governor Kathy Hochul today approved amendments to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan (SLMP) which were recommended by the Adirondack Park Agency Board. The amendments improve the protection and management of 2.9 million acres of public land in New York State’s Adirondack Park.
“From providing clean drinking water to welcoming millions of visitors every year to enjoy the outdoors, the Adirondack Park is a national treasure and a symbol of New York’s environmental leadership,” Governor Hochul said. “These amendments ensure that New York remains at the forefront of public land preservation and conservation for the benefit of New Yorkers today and tomorrow. By strengthening resilience and promoting sustainable recreation, we are safeguarding the Adirondacks for the next generation while preserving their wild character.
The SLMP guides how state land within the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve can be used by the public and maintained and modified by the State through establishing different classes of protection. The amendments approved today ensure that planning for the preservation of and recreation in one of the State’s most precious natural resources also aligns with the values of inclusion and resilience. These amendments further enhance the Adirondack Park Agency and Department of Environmental Conservation’s ability to:
- Protect habitat and open space and protect recreation investments by addressing climate risks;
- Improve public land and water access for persons with disabilities by identifying existing accessible infrastructure and assessing potential additions;
- Support sustainable outdoor recreation by incorporating visitor use management into public land planning.
The Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan guides decision-making for 2.9 million acres of state land in the Adirondack Park. In addition to requiring that climate change, accessibility, and visitor use management are included in management and use planning for each state land parcel, the amendments update practices for wildlife management structures and historic areas.
Additionally, a recent state land acquisition—the 585-acre Four Peaks Tract in the Towns of Wilmington and Jay—was classified as Wild Forest. Containing a diverse array of meadowlands and mountains, the Four Peaks Tract was identified in the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan and has the potential to expand recreational opportunities in the Ausable River Valley.
APA Executive Director Barbara Rice said, “The Agency thanks Governor Hochul for her decisive environmental leadership. This action concludes nearly two years of hard work and thoughtful deliberation. These amendments will ensure the State continues to protect New York’s globally significant natural resources as we work to ensure access to our public lands to people of all abilities.”
Posted: November 20th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Business News, Environmental News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History, State Government News.
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“This year marks the 35th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act and while we’ve made some progress, challenges remain and more effort is needed to ensure people with disabilities have equal opportunities in the workplace,” DiNapoli said. “Providing accommodations for workplace flexibility and encouraging employers to practice inclusive hiring can help improve employment outcomes for people with a disability. By championing inclusion, we create progress, prosperity and a stronger New York.”
In 2024, more than 2.5 million New Yorkers 16 and older had a disability, representing 15% of the working-age population. Due to the daily challenges facing people with disabilities, they are less likely to graduate high school or earn a bachelor’s degree and tend to have lower rates of labor force participation and employment. As a result, they earn far less on average than those without a disability. In 2024, one in four New Yorkers with a disability lived below the poverty line compared to one in five nationally.
Increases to Labor Force Participation Rate
Nationally, the labor force participation rate for people with a disability age 16 and over rose by five percentage points from 2019-2024, with the greatest gains between 2019 and 2021. Research has noted post-Covid labor market patterns differ from previous recessions in which employment recovery for people with disabilities lagged the nondisabled population, largely due to expanded remote work options for those who would have difficulty taking an in-person job, and a tighter labor market that encouraged more inclusive hiring.
State Policy Efforts
New York State has taken several steps to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The state’s “Employment First” initiative requires state agencies to adopt plans to increase competitive integrated employment (CIE) in the workforce and encourages businesses to adopt inclusive hiring practices. The initial goals of Employment First in 2015 were to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities by 5% and reduce their poverty rate by 5% statewide. 2024 data show employment gains over the past ten years exceed this goal, though reductions in poverty have been more modest.
State agencies are required to develop an annual plan that details how they will improve the percentage of people with disabilities they hire, and the Chief Disability Officer is required to annually collect data from each agency and report on and evaluate the state’s progress on improving the employment rate of state employees with disabilities.
Other state programs that help overcome barriers to employment for people with disabilities include enacted legislative changes in 2022 to its Preferred Source Contracting Program that were intended to foster more inclusive jobs in the nonprofit sector and increase CIE. The state also runs specialized hiring programs within the state workforce for people with disabilities under Civil Service Law 55-b and 55-c. In addition, since 2015, businesses in New York that employ people with disabilities have been authorized to claim either a personal income tax or corporate franchise tax credit.
DiNapoli emphasized the importance of leveraging existing vocational programs, improving transportation services for jobs that cannot be done remotely, and educating employers about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities, measures that could significantly diminish barriers to employment for people with disabilities.
Report
Economic and Policy Insights – Workers with Disabilities Achieve Labor Force Gains, but Disparities Remain
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Posted: November 20th, 2025 under Business News, Heathcare News, Social Issues, State Government News, Statewide News.
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Clinton Community College Vice President for Institutional Advancement Steve Frederick (left) presents the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award to Carol Parkinson Arnold, with Jim Jock (right), Class of ’86 and past Alumni Association president.
Nov. 20, 2025. PLATTSBURGH — The Clinton Community College Alumni Association named Carol Parkinson Arnold ’73 as the recipient of its Distinguished Alumni Award at its fall 2025 reunion celebration.
From Clinton Graduate to Industry Leader
A Keeseville, New York, native and proud 1973 Clinton graduate, Arnold’s life story reflects decades of professional achievement, personal resilience and community service.
After earning her associate degree in business administration, Arnold launched a 40-year career with DuPont in Delaware. Rising to the role of engineering knowledge management leader, she developed systems for intellectual property management and training programs, earning respect for her collaborative leadership style.
Adventure and Achievement
Beyond her career, Arnold embraced adventure and athleticism. A former distance runner, she completed seven marathons and was chosen to carry the Olympic torch for the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid—a role awarded for athletic ability, poise and an essay capturing the Olympic spirit. The experience included media appearances, wilderness training and a cross-state relay she recalls as unforgettable.
Arnold’s adventurous spirit extended worldwide, from solo European travels at 18 to business trips across continents. Her entrepreneurial side stood out through real estate investments, often making quick decisions that paid off through strategic planning.
A Commitment to Community
Since retiring and returning to the North Country, Arnold has remained involved in community service. She serves on the Clinton Community College Alumni Board, the Clinton County Historical Association, Rotary International, the Rockwell Kent Gallery and supports initiatives like the JCEO Backpack Program and the Mayor’s Charter Commission.
“The first time anyone meets Carol they will quickly realize she is a force of nature,” said Clinton Community College Vice President for Institutional Advancement Steve Frederick. “She is an incredibly generous community servant and a big thinker. The North Country is so fortunate that Carol decided to return home upon her retirement from DuPont.”
Guided by the belief that experiences matter more than possessions, Arnold lives by a favorite Robert Frost-inspired quote: “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
She hopes to be remembered as a generous soul, a protector of the Adirondacks and someone who encouraged others to reach beyond their limits.
Posted: November 20th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Business News, Community Events, Education News, General News, Northern NY News.
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