“We are driving a dagger through the heart of the climate-change religion and ushering in America’s Golden Age,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal

Click here for the CBS News story 

By John T Ryan

If all goes as planned, the 7 Jenkins Street tennis courts will soon be private property.  At its Monday, March 10 meeting, the town board declared the property surplus and will list it for sale as soon as the market value is determined. In 2016, residents proposed repairing the courts for pickleball; however, after receiving a $30,000 repair cost estimate, the board did not take action. In September 2022, the board discussed selling the property. Now, it’s moving forward.

Awarding bids for the state-mandated sewage treatment plant project should occur very soon; however, when the board opened general construction and plumbing bids a few days ago, no contractor submitted a bid for the mechanical (heating/air conditioning) phase. Monday evening, the board voted to readvertise that portion of the project. Board members want to know the project’s total cost and tax impact to determine its scope. The Water, Sewer, Parks Department would like to relocate its office, equipment & vehicle garage from Cross Street to the treatment plant. The department and the highway department would then use the Cross Street garage for storage and demolish an old River Road storage building that needs a new roof.

New York State approved reducing the Roadwell Road speed limit to 45 MPH from  55 MPH. The town will erect new signs when ground conditions permit.

Peru Girl Scout Leader Michelle Calkins and her daughter Olivia asked the board’s permission to set up several children’s activities at the Little Ausable River Park. They would include frog hotels, frog huts, bird feeders, birdhouses, a flower garden, a fairy garden, and a painted rock snake chain.  The scouts would phase them in and ask for community support to maintain them. The board gave its blessing but asked Calkins to update them on what is happening with photos.

Verizon requested the Zoning Board’s permission to locate a communications tower at the Peru I-87 rest stop.

The Telegraph Road Bridge approval continues at a slow pace. Mike Farrell reported that DEC granted preliminary project approval, but he hasn’t heard from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Supervisor Craig Randall appealed to residents to complete the community survey online.  The Planning Board is revising Peru’s plan for future development and is doing its best to seek public input.

In other actions, the board:

Reappointed Ashley Akey and Alexis Grennan to three-year terms as members of the Peru Youth Commission.

Approved purchasing a steam jenny for the highway department for $9,218.  The department uses the steam jenny to thaw and remove ice from culverts.

3/12/25 – 5:31 PM – Correction made to the speed limit change reported. The state approved the reduction for the Rockwell Road, not the Rock Road.

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Town of Indian Lake
Hamilton County
Snowmobile Accident: On March 4 at 11:30 a.m., Hamilton County received a 911 call about an unconscious snowmobiler on Indian Lake. Environmental Conservation Police Officer (ECO) Newell arrived first at the scene, followed by Forest Ranger Milano and an Indian Lake Paramedic. The 55-year-old from Hillsdale had hit an ice heave while snowmobiling and travelled approximately 150 feet in the air on the vehicle before being ejected and travelling another nearly 150 feet after bouncing off the ice a couple of times. The subject suffered a traumatic brain injury and injured his left arm. First responders and bystanders wrapped the snowmobiler in a hypo wrap and transported him in a snow ambulance. Indian Lake Fire and EMS carried the subject to a Life Net helicopter, which flew him to the hospital. Resources were clear at 1 p.m.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On March 8 at 4 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the family members of two overdue hikers. The last known location for the 25- and 30-year-olds was the summit of Upper Wolfjaw Mountain. The pair from Queensbury had left an itinerary with their family members with instructions not to worry until 3 a.m. The pair were planning to complete five peaks of the Lower Great Range. Wolfjaw was their fourth peak with strong winds, whiteout conditions, and temperatures as low as –40 degrees with the windchill in higher elevations. At 6:30 a.m., Forest Ranger Lewis located the hikers’ vehicle at the Adirondack Mountain Reserve parking lot. Rangers hiked the Wedgebrook Trail and A.W. trail. As they were about to hike the south side trail of Johns Brook Valley at 10 a.m., Johns Brook Lodge called to report the two hikers were at the lodge and in good condition. The hikers had lost the trail and could only find the trail to Johns Brook Valley. They encountered other hikers in the morning who told them about the lodge. Rangers explained how the hikers could get to the Garden parking lot and at 12:30 p.m., the pair met up with Rangers and family.

The pair had multiple electronic devices for navigation, but the batteries all died. Rangers encourage hikers to always travel with a map and a compass.

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

A cast of 28 dedicated students will bring the stage to life March 20-22

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Vermont Public story 

Ripton school’s recruitment efforts fall short, compounding worries about its future

Click here for the Vermont Public story 

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

            “I strongly oppose the Governor’s recent Executive Order declaring a state of emergency at correctional facilities and barring terminated New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS) from future employment at other state, county or local government agencies. This is an absolute ridiculous usurpation of local control and an overreach of executive power. The Executive Order is vindictive and must be reversed immediately.”  

By John T Ryan

Peru, NY – March 11, 2025 – “We do what we have fun doing.” That’s how Peru Town Historian Helen Nerska and volunteers Chris Mullen and Jackie Madison describe their work at the Peru historian’s office. The women, including Nerska, are unpaid volunteers who love local history and want to share it.

Helen Nerska, who also directs the Clinton County Historical Association, has been Peru’s Town Historian since August 2022, succeeding longtime historians Ron and Carol Allen.  Nerska commented, “Peru has an incredible history to share. I want people, especially future generations, to learn how hard those people worked, how important family was, and how they communicated. We want to share it and make it more available to people.”

Helen Allen Nerska grew up and resides at the Jabez Allen Homestead on Jabez Allen Road. A sign in the front yard reads, “Allen Homestead since 1788.” Seven Allen generations farmed its land. Chris Irwin Mullen’s parents, Kermit and Bertha, operated the beautiful Maplegrand Farm on Jarvis Road. Kermit was a leader in the local and state dairy industry. Mrs. Irwin worked on the farm, was a mother to six children, and cared for her parents and Kermit’s parents as they grew older. Sundays, she was the Peru Community Church’s organist. Jackie Madison, a great friend to Nerska and Mullen, is President of the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association.

Over the past several months, Nerska, Mullen, and Madison have been unboxing, examining, organizing, filing, and cataloging hundreds of historical Peru documents, photographs, and artifacts. Nerska is developing a computer database listing all the historical items in the town’s possession and their location. They’ve uncovered long-forgotten Peru history, including some somewhat scandalous behavior.

Last year Nerska and Mullen staffed displays at the Peru Town Market, the Applefest, and the Babbie Museum, organized a hamlet walking tour, and conducted a “History Chats” series with Peru senior citizens. They’ll host another walking tour this summer, an open house at the Lyons Street one-room schoolhouse, and participate in the America 250 Celebration. The Revolutionary War Battle of Valcour Island occurred in Peru on October 11, 1776.

The ladies are also developing what Nerska calls a “mini-museum” on the town hall’s lower level. Visitors will enjoy historic photographs and artifacts, such as medicine bottles from Marsha’s pharmacy and photos of the Mason lumber mill, Peru’s business district, and the Valcour Summer Camp.

Helen Nerska praises her town historian predecessors, Ron and Carol Allen, Cora Stafford, John Roach, Hilda Curtis, Jane Metcalf, Nancy LaMar, and Eleanor Spaulding, for collecting and preserving the town’s possessions. She also thanks Lincoln Sunderland for his many books detailing Peru’s history, which are invaluable resources. Nerska said, “We treasure everything they preserved.

Helen Nerska, Chris Mullen, and Jackie Madison warmly invite the community to visit the historian’s office. “We always enjoy it when people come to visit. We want people to know they can share their history with us, and we’ll share ours with them.”

The office is open every Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. Phone 518-643-2745 Ext. 108. Nerska’s cell number is 513-582-7246. Email: historian@perutown.com

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

TOWN OF PERU

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL  February  2025 minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing
6. APPLICATIONS:

1. P2025-0003   2-Lot Minor Subdivision
Ashley
Yanulavich
267.-1-3.21
606 Patent Rd
2. P2025-0004   2-Lot Minor Subdivision
Doreen James
280.-1-27.11
128 Barker Rd
3. P2025-0005  2-Lot Minor Subdivision
Doreen James
280.-1-46
2814 NYS Route 22
4. P2025-0006 Merge
Doreen James
280.-1-27.11 &280.-1-46
Barker Rd and NYS 22
5. P2025-0007 2-Lot Minor Subdivision
Ruth Relation
255.-2-15
85 Conners Rd
6.P2025-0008 Merge Michael
Wells
255.-2-18.22
57 Conners Rd

7.  ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
8.  CEO REPORT
ADJOURNMENT

TOWN OF PERU

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL of January 2025 minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing
6. APPLICATIONS:

1. Z2025-104 Special Use Permit NY RSA2 Cellular Partnership
d/b/a Verizon Wireless
Valcour Rest Area

7. CEO REPORT
8. ADJOURNMENT

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) 

Clinton County, March 11, 2025. The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) and their local partners are working closely to monitor Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1 or bird flu, in Clinton County and to share educational messages with poultry and dairy farms and workers, health care providers, and the community. 

HPAI has been widespread in the state for several years and is circulating across the country. This strain of influenza virus has spread from wild birds into poultry, dairy cattle, domestic cats and many species of wildlife. Rarely, it has passed to humans who had direct contact with infected birds and mammals, including dairy cows, and caused illness. At this time, there is no evidence that HPAI has spread from person to person in the United States. To date, in New York, there have been no human cases of HPAI and no detections in cattle. 

“HPAI has been present among wild birds in the North Country, in small numbers, since 2022. Clinton County has not seen HPAI cases in domestic poultry, cattle, or other mammals,” explained Director of Public Health Jeffrey Sisson. “While residents may be hearing about HPAI outbreaks in other parts of the state or country, in Clinton County, current activity among wild birds remains within expected levels for our community. The risk to the public is low.” 

In New York, Department of Health (NYSDOH), the Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSAGM), and the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) are working together to protect the health of people and animals across the State. As part of this response, NYSDEC launched a web-based HPAI reporting tool earlier this year to identify the virus in novel bird species and locations. Residents can report any findings of dead birds, especially multiple birds in one place, using this tool. 

The DEC advises the public to avoid any contact with sick or dead birds and mammals that may be infected with HPAI. Residents can further minimize the risk of spreading HPAI by preventing contact between sick or dead wildlife and domestic animals. Limit contact with these animals unless necessary, and keep children and pets away. If carcasses need to be removed, use a shovel (if available) and wear disposable gloves, a mask, and eye protection; wash hands and clothing immediately after and triple-bag carcasses and put them in an outdoor trash receptacle. 

Residents that keep backyard poultry flocks can visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/animals/poultry for more information to help prevent the spread of the disease within their flocks. “While our commercial poultry farms have strict biosecurity and monitoring measures in place, we know we have many residents who keep poultry at their homes,” added Mr. Sisson. “These residents should review their biosecurity plans and take “Working Together for a Healthier Community” – 2 – 

precautions to protect their birds, including keeping their flock completely separated from wild birds.” To report sick or dead poultry, call the NYSAGM at (518) 457-3502. 

“Again, the risk to the public right now is low,” emphasized Mr. Sisson. “We want to assure our residents that we are paying close attention to the current situation and will share any updates on the impact to human health as appropriate.” 

For more information about H5N1 avian influenza, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/avian/. 

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

Michigans

Salads 

Dessert

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., take-out only, at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972 

All are invited and welcome!

In 2020 the property was listd for sale at $100 million 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Kyle Kapitanski is set to be arraigned next week on a felony charge stemming from the crash that killed Sean Hayes, a cyclist, in South Burlington.

Click here for the VTDigger story 

The Clinton County Historical Association (CCHA) invites you to say, “I do,” to its newest exhibition. 

Click here for the NCPR story 

Plattsburgh, NY- Connor Baehre, a high school junior from Peru Central School, has been selected to attend this year’s Students Inside Albany Conference sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc. Annika Pair from Northern Adirondack Central School has been chosen 1^st alternate and Lino Caputo from Boquet Valley Central School has been chosen 2^nd alternate. The 23rd annual conference will run May 18-21, and brings forty-five students from across the state to Albany to get a first-hand education about New York State government. The program is designed to increase high school awareness of their responsibility in representative government and provide information about the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility.

While at the conference, students will join their peers in a hands-on learning experience about how state government works. Students will participate in a series of interactive lectures on topics such as the state budget process, the role of lobbyists in the legislative process, citizen rights to access government information, the role of media in politics, and the move to reform state government. While in Albany, the students will have an opportunity to tour the New York State Capitol. The highlights for most students include shadowing their Senator and Assembly Member for an afternoon and attending sessions on the Chamber floors.

For more information on the League of Women Voters of the North Country, please contact Helen Nerska at allenhomestead@gmail.com. For more information on the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation or the Students Inside Albany program, please visit www.lwvny.org.

The League of Women Voters of New York State is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation in government, increases understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Membership is open to all and provides the opportunity to be active and involved in local, state and national issues.

3/11/25, 8 PM – Headline Corrected. Baehre was incorrectly spelled.