The Peru Gazette

The Clinton County Historial Association announces the formation of Clinton County’s America250 Semiquincentennial Anniversary Steering Committee. The Committee is a coalition of historical, educational, nonprofit, government, and other representatives who, for several months, have been discussing the various event opportunities for the upcoming 250^th anniversary of the founding of our nation. The committee’s objective is to harness Clinton County’s collective efforts to ensure it marks this region’s imprint on the American Story. CCHA President Geri Favreau is serving as Project Coordinator. Desmond Meacham, a recent SUNY Plattsburgh graduate majoring in history, serves as project lead for aspects of the project related to the grant.

Steering Committee Members are:  Sharon Bell (Saranac Chapter, NSDAR.), Michael Cashman (Supervisor, Town of Plattsburgh, Battlefield Memorial Gateway Park & Committee Co-Chair), Geri Favreau (President, CCHA, Committee Co-Chair & Project Coordinator), Rich Frost (Historian & Author), Wendell Hughes (County Legislator), Brandy McDonald (Supervisor, Town of Peru), Desmond Meacham (Grant Team Leader), Helen Nerska (Director, CCHA & Town of Peru Historian), John Rock (Sons of the American Legion and Friends of Crab Island; Battlefield Memorial Gateway Park), and Craig Russell (Valcour Battle Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution)

Michael Cashman – “This region is rich with history. Especially military history dating back to the formation of this great nation. The Town of Plattsburgh along with our partners, the Clinton County American Legion, are excited to be advancing efforts of the Battlefield Memorial Gateway project. Our goal is to create a multigenerational space that helps to tell important stories that occurred on the land, islands and Lake Champlain. The BMG project will focus on the Battle of Valcour and Crab Island. While serving as a launching point for locals and visitors to continue to explore history throughout the North Country. It is with great pride to be part of a larger effort to celebrate our region’s history as stories in the earliest chapter of the American story.”

Geri Favreau – “Our region has had a significant impact on the formation and birth of our nation from the Original People who were here first to the Revolutionary War to the Battle of Plattsburgh and beyond.  The mission of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission is ‘To commemorate our 250th anniversary with inclusive programs that inspire Americans to renew and strengthen our daring experiment in democracy.’  An experiment that has survived for 250 years!  It is with great pride that Clinton County and the Clinton County Historical Association will lead in commemorating the Revolutionary War in our region and the beginning of our democracy.”

Desmond Meacham – “I am excited and honored to be working on a project concerning our area’s strong roots to the birth of the country. The semiquincentennial celebrations here in Clinton County will include many moments to remember and learn about this land and the lake’s role in America’s earliest days.”

Craig Russell – “The Battle of Valcour Bay was the first ‘ naval encounter ‘ after independence was declared. Although a tactical defeat, it was a strategic win for the patriot cause. Although he eventually betrayed the country, Benedict Arnold was truly the foremost combat general from 1775 to 1777. Had he remained faithful to the cause of liberty, he surely would be ranked just under George Washington as a revered general. We must present the events that led up to that fateful October 11, 1776, and link the events in the Champlain Valley and Quebec Province commemorating the overall picture of what occurred and presenting and understanding the good part of Benedict Arnold’s military career.”

Sharon Bell – “The Battle of Valcour was a pivotal, but little known, battle in the American Revolution. By delaying the British Invasion force, Arnold bought time for the fledging American cause. The Saranac Chapter US Daughters of the American Revolution has been commemorating the Battle of Valcour for 127 years. We look forward to participating in the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution.”

John Rock – “Our area is very rich in history with the battles that have taken place and the veterans we have had who served our nation. The North Country needs to tell our story about what events took place in our fight for independence and the birth of a new nation. I hope everyone will help us plan this huge event for 2026, all towns and communities.”

For more information about Clinton County’s America250 program planning, contact: gerifavreau@gmail.com.  

Funding for this project came from an $8,000 Local Heritage Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.

March 20, 2023

The Town of Peru is accepting sealed bids for an air conditioning mini split system for the Town Hall and to furnish and install a drop ceiling as a separate bid.  Please visit Peru Town Hall to measure and assess needs for bid.  

Sealed bids will be accepted by Dianne Miller, Town Clerk, up until the opening of said bids, which will be at 10:00 AM on April 10, 2023, with the anticipation that the bid will be awarded at the regular meeting at 6:00 PM that evening. 

The Town of Peru reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

__________________________

Dianne Miller

Town Clerk

Town of Peru

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Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Drive, Monday, March 27, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., St. Augustine’s Parish Center. All blood collected is utilized in our local region.

Coordinated by the Peru Knights of Columbus council 7273 

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$500 scholarship awarded to a high school senior or current college student majoring in music

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The first Republican presidential primaries are nearly a year away and the candidate field is unsettled

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According to the NHTSA recall notice, 2013-2018 Ford Fusion models and 2013-2018 Lincoln MKZ models may have front brake hoses that could rupture and leak brake fluid.

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Communities come together to express their pride and excitement

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AMC deemed tops in managing risk, providing quality care with better outcomes, patient satisfaction, and at lower cost

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L-R Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Garry Douglas, Assemblyman Billy Jones, Barrie Finnegan, MC Matt Boire, State Senator Dan Stec

Plattsburgh – (3/17/2023) | The North Country Chamber of Commerce has hosted the St. Patrick’s Day breakfast for over 60 years. We were thrilled to host our breakfast to a sold-out crowd this morning at the West Side Ballroom, with more than 380 attendees. The event played off a “Tonight Show” format. With Matt Boire, CDC Real Estate, at the helm and channeling his best talk show host character, he commanded the room for more than an hour of merriment and malarky. 

This special event honors the Irish person of the Year, a tradition based on dedication to volunteerism, whether in business, community, civic activities, or a combination of any of these. This Year we honored Barrie Finnegan, Director of the North Country Honor Flight.

Barrie Finnegan has been an incredible nonprofit leader in our community for ten years. He is the Executive Director of the North Country Honor Flight. This organization honors those men and women who left their homes and families to fight a foreign enemy on foreign soil and gave so much in service to us all. The priority for the North Country Honor Flight is to give World War II, Korean War, terminally ill, and Vietnam Veterans the opportunity to fly to Washington, D.C., to visit their National Memorials at no charge to them.

Barrie’s name is synonymous with the North Country Honor Flight. He has spent countless volunteer hours reviewing applications, booking flights, fundraising, and coordinating a proper take-off ceremony for each honor flight. Tasks have not gone unnoticed by those of the North Country.

Janet Duprey, a longtime supporter and volunteer with the Honor Flight and last Year’s Irish person of the Year, states, “Working side by side with Barrie is a total pleasure. We always discuss issues to ensure we make the best decisions for our Veterans. Barrie puts in more hours, travels more to collect fundraising money, and meets with organizations or veterans on request than anyone I know. It’s a privilege to call him a great friend, and North Country Honor Flight is fortunate to have Executive Director Barrie Finnegan. And we are delighted to both be Irish!!”

Beyond his Honor Flight Service, Finnegan is a lifelong North Country Resident who grew up in Keeseville and graduated from Suny Cortland. His day job as a New York Life Insurance agent keeps him busy too. He is married to his wife, Lisa. He has three children, Christopher, Ben, and Elizabeth, and one granddaughter, Mae, who he adores.

“The Honorary Irishman of the Year Award has become one of the most singular honors in the North Country each year,” says Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “The list of past honorees is a litany of people who have left a lasting impact on our area, from leading officials to extraordinary volunteers. Barrie Finnegan is a perfect addition to this list, providing inspiring leadership with the North Country Honor Flights, demonstrating real appreciation for our region’s veterans, and, in a very real way, continuing this area’s long and special relationship with our armed services. Congratulations and profound thanks to this eminent and deserving citizen. Onward and upward!” 

To learn more about his work and the work of countless volunteers, you can visit northcountryhonorflight.org or follow them on Facebook @NYnorthcountryhonorflight.

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Through their investigation, they learned the threat made on social media was not credible.

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Feast Day—March 17

The patron saint of Ireland, Patrick was born in Roman Britain. He describes his life and ministry, including his work to convert the Irish people, in his short autobiography and testimony, Confessions. Kidnapped at age 16 by Irish raiders and sold into slavery in Ireland, his time spent in captivity transformed him spiritually. He was a lonely shepherd for six years before escaping and returning home.

After returning home, his dream of converting the Irish from pagan belief propelled him to priestly studies in Gaul (now France). In about 432, Pope Celestine I consecrated him as a bishop and sent him to Ireland. For nearly 30 years, he preached tirelessly, made countless converts, founded monasteries, and established the primatial see at Armagh in modern-day Northern Ireland. Toward the end of his life, he made a 40-day retreat on Croagh Patrick mountain in present-day County Mayo. That gave rise to the pilgrimages that are made on the mountain to this day. Stories that Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity and drove snakes from the island are unconfirmed legend.

Internationally recognized technology will now help Washington Metro achieve green goals

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