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More About The Peru Gazette

The editor is John Ryan at email: perugazette@gmail.com. The Peru Gazette is a free community, education and information website. It is non-commercial and does not accept paid advertising.

Comment Policy

The Peru Gazette welcomes comments on posted stories. The author MUST include his/her first and last name. No  foul or libelous language permitted. The Peru Gazette reserves the right to not publish a comment.

Recent Comments

Local business now part of the Michelin North America network

The integration of Camso into Michelin will only strengthen their operation here in Plattsburgh which now employs over 200 full time employees. The future certainly looks bright for Michelin in the North Country!

Tupper Lake BrewSki returns this weekend

Click here for the NCPR story 

Clinton County job opening for a senior computer programmer

Twenty Adirondack Libraries Including Peru Free Library Selected for AdkAction’s Library Buzz Program and Native Plant Sale Launch

AdkAction is announcing two pollinator-focused programs in 2023. 


In late 2022, AdkAction invited libraries across the Adirondacks to apply to AdkAction Library Buzz Program–a program that offers free Pollinator Resource Kits to local libraries to help them empower both area residents and visitors to become informed pollinator advocates and take action to protect these vital species. In response to strong applications and enthusiasm for the project, AdkAction is thrilled to offer these free resource kits to all libraries that applied for the program–twenty Adirondack libraries in total.
The libraries participating in the program are: Akwesasne Cultural Center, Bolton Free Library, Champlain Memorial Library, Corinth Free Library, Crandall Public Library, CVW Long Lake Public Library, Essex – Belden Noble Memorial Library, Indian Lake Public Library, Keeseville Free Library, Lake Placid Public Library, Town of Johnsburg Library, Old Forge Library, Peru Free Library, Richards Library, Saranac Lake Free Library, Town of Chester Public Library, Tupper Lake Public Library, Wadhams Free Library, Wells Memorial Library, and the Westport Library Association.
All participating libraries will receive a Pollinator Resource Kit containing a variety of educational resources for children and adults, including pollinator-focused books, posters, native wildflower seed packets, activities, fact sheets, quizzes, word searches and puzzles, pollinator guides, links to additional online resources, and other materials.


These materials will be distributed to participating libraries before Pollinator Week, an annual celebration in support of pollinator health and a time to raise awareness for pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. Pollinator Week 2023 will take place from June 19-25, and AdkAction will offer assistance to libraries in planning Pollinator Week events using the materials in their resource kits.


This program was made possible by support from the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation. 


Native Pollinator Plant Sale
 
AdkAction’s Adirondack Pollinator Project will also be offering its 6th Annual Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant Sale. Whether you plant a few plants or many, you can help rebuild the monarch butterfly population, attract hummingbirds, and strengthen native bee and moth populations.
 
This year, the Pollinator Project has chosen 14 varieties of native flowering plants to benefit Adirondack pollinators. Thanks to the generosity and vision of the Uihlein Foundation, the Pollinator Project is able to grow the plants at the Uihlein Farm Greenhouse in Lake Placid, and you will be able to pick them up directly from the greenhouse on June 3rd, 2023. During the plant sale, area groups will be invited to help transform the sale into a pollinator extravaganza. 
All plants will be ready to plant directly in your garden and to thrive during their first season. Each plant has been carefully sourced or grown from seed to ensure that they have never come in contact with neonicotinoids (a class of insecticides that are harmful to pollinators).
All sale proceeds support pollinator habitat conservation by the Adirondack Pollinator Project, a project of AdkAction in partnership with The Wild Center and Paul Smith’s College.
For more information, and to order plants, visit www.adkaction.org/plantsale.
The Adirondack Pollinator Project is a project of AdkAction in collaboration with The Wild Center and Paul Smith’s College. www.adkaction.org/pollinators
AdkAction is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to create projects that address unmet needs, promote vibrant communities, and preserve the character of the Adirondacks. Learn more at www.AdkAction.org.

Widespread steady snow, some mixing set to arrive Wednesday night in Vermont, New York

By Thursday morning, a widespread 4 to 8 inches of snow is expected for most of northern New York and Vermont.

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

What’s happening to YOUR garbage?

CV-TEC, BETA, the electric plane manufacturer, announce partnership

Click here for the Press-Republican story 

March 1 is deadline to apply for senior STAR school tax break

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

CNY high school soccer coach drowns while coming to aid of his kids at Florida beach

Click here for the Sun Community News story

Coming Lake Placid Events

Lake Placid Loppet at Mt. Van Hoevenberg on Feb. 26; the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Men’s Hockey Championships are in town March 17 and 18; and the International Skating Union (ISU) World Synchronized Skating Championships come to the Lake Placid Olympic Center with 26 teams on March 30 through April 1. The USA Youth National Bobsled Competition is set for Mt. Van Hoevenberg March 4 and 5; and the NCAA 2023 Skiing Championships will bring Nordic racing to Mt. Van Ho from March 5 to 11.

Norsk Titanium enters the semiconductor market

 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Mission of Hope rallies to send aid to Ukraine

Click here for the My Champlain Valley News story 

If UnitedHealthcare is your medical insurance provider, you need to read this message

Message from UVM Health Network President and CEO Sunil Eappen

I’m writing to let you know about a developing situation affecting some of our patients in Vermont and Northern New York: In spite of our best efforts to reach a new agreement, UnitedHealthcare has decided to terminate its commercial insurance contract with the UVM Health Network when that contract expires on April 1. UnitedHealthcare’s decision does not impact other contracts with them, such as Medicare Advantage.

As of April 1, our hospitals, providers and skilled nursing facilities will no longer be able to provide in-network coverage to 2,660 UnitedHealthcare subscribers and their families. Extensions will apply for some patients: For example, any patients currently undergoing a course of treatment, such as cancer treatment or pregnancy care, likely will be entitled to continued coverage at the in-network level for a transition period. Patients should contact UnitedHealthcare for specifics. Additionally, as nonprofit health care providers, we will always care for patients in need of emergency care regardless of their insurance coverage.

UnitedHealthcare is expected to begin contacting patients who are affected by this situation as soon as this week. Our Network is undertaking outreach efforts: We have made information available to UnitedHealthcare policyholders on our website (UVMHealth.org/UnitedHealthcare), and we’re providing information for patients to our clinics and call centers. Patients should work with their current UVM Health Network provider to ensure a smooth transition to a new provider if they choose. A list of in-network providers can be found through UnitedHealthcare’s website or by contacting them directly.

The UVM Health Network’s mission is to provide high-quality health care to everyone we serve, and we are deeply concerned when decisions like this impact our patients. We apologize for the disruptions this situation may cause in your community, and across our region. It’s important to note that, for years, our ability to provide timely and appropriate care to patients covered by UnitedHealthcare’s commercial insurance plans has been affected by significant administrative and operational issues. Additionally, despite their financial strength, UnitedHealthcare has made every attempt to undercut their reimbursement rates to our nonprofit health system, which negatively impacts our budget and our ability to invest in patient services, our workforce and our facilities.

Last year, we were able to reach a last-minute agreement with UnitedHealthcare to keep their commercial customers in-network. Unfortunately, UnitedHealthcare has made the decision to end negotiations for renewal of the current contract. We proposed a plan that would have allowed current patients to continue accessing our care with their UnitedHealthcare coverage through the end of 2023, under financial terms that would have had a negative impact on our health system. But UnitedHealthcare declined.

There’s a dynamic happening nationwide that is harmful both to patients and to health care providers: As hospitals and health systems, including ours, struggle under the increased expenses of providing care, many insurers are posting high profits. We’re seeing that same dynamic in the current situation with UnitedHealthcare. As a health system, we need to be able to negotiate reasonable, responsible insurer contracts that allow us to meet our patients’ needs while allowing our providers to do their jobs, so we can be here for everyone we serve for the long run.

If you are impacted by UnitedHealthcare’s actions or know someone who is, please take the following steps regarding coverage or continuity of care:

  • Go to our online resource for UnitedHealthcare members for information on how to navigate this transition. It can be found at UVMHealth.org/UnitedHealthcare.
  • For questions specific to a UnitedHealthcare plan, patients should contact United directly.
  • Patients who are receiving health insurance through their employer should speak with them about their available options.
  • Patients enrolled in health insurance through non-employer plans may wish to change insurers during the next open enrollment period in order to ensure care at the UVM Health Network remains in-network.

Thank you for your continued leadership and partnership, and I’ll keep you updated on this situation and other news regarding the UVM Health Network and our communities.

Sincerely,

Sunny

Sunil Eappen, MD, MBA
President and CEO, The University of Vermont Health Network

Read more »

Adirondack Center for Writing hosts event to help students with their writing 

Saranac Lake, NY—The Adirondack Center for Writing is hosting a Teen Night on Friday, March 3, from 3 to 7 PM in order to help teenagers draft, revise, and send their writings to Wild Words: Adirondack Teen Writing Anthology. As the deadline to submit writing to the anthology is approaching (3/10/2023), ACW wants to support teenagers who aren’t sure what to write, what to send, or how to send it. ACW will have editors present to help teens get writing, make edits to their work, and get it submitted before the deadline. Teachers and mentors are welcome to bring groups of students to Teen Night as well. Registration is encouraged but not required (walk-ins welcome). Snacks and pizza will be served at 5 PM.

 

Wild Words is a brand new, yearly print publication. It’s a place for teens living in the North Country to publish their creative writing, including poetry, short stories, memoirs, personal essays, sci-fi, and fantasy. Any teen (age 13-19) living in the North Country is eligible to submit writing (10 pages max) for consideration in the anthology, which will be published in the spring of 2023. ACW has developed an online toolkit for teachers and organizations interested in sharing this opportunity with members of their communities, which can be found online at www.adirondackcenterforwriting.org/wildwords. Submissions are due by midnight on March 10, 2023.

A public book launch for the anthology is scheduled for April 22, 2023 at ACW in Saranac Lake (15 Broadway). Free copies will be distributed to contributors and locations throughout the North Country, with additional copies available to be mailed for a small fee to cover shipping.

The Wild Words anthology is a collaboration between Visiting Writer Erin Dorney and the Adirondack Center for Writing as part of the Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) Artist Employment Program. CRNY, a project of the Tides Center, is a three-year, $125 million investment in the financial stability of New York State artists and the organizations that employ them. Dorney will work with ACW over the next two years on a variety of projects designed to encourage creative writing and readership throughout the Adirondack Park.

“Seeing your words published in print means a lot to any writer,” says Dorney. “For teens living in the North Country, this is a great opportunity to share their unique voices, experiences, and identities with a wider community of writers and readers. ACW believes teens have lots of important things to say, and we’re excited to read through the submissions that come in.”

The Adirondack Center for Writing (ACW) has been bringing people and words together for over 20 years. For more info about ACW and our latest programs, visit www.adirondackcenterforwriting.org and follow @adkctr4writing on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook).

Snowstorm to impact Vermont, New York beginning Wednesday night

.Snow will begin falling Wednesday night, with moderate to heavy snowfall early Thursday morning.Lighter snow will continue Thursday, Thursday night and Friday morning.

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

St. Augustine’s Soup Kitchen Menu for Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Macaroni & Cheese
Veggie Burgers
Dessert
Served take-out only, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972
All are welcome!

Update: National Weather Service Winter Weather Watch

257 AM EST Tue Feb 21 2023

…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON…

* WHAT…Heavy snowfall. Total snow accumulations of 7 inches or
more, with ice accumulations of a light glaze possible in
Rutland and Windsor Counties.

* WHERE…All of northern New York, and central and northern
Vermont.

* WHEN…From Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult, especially on the
Thursday morning commute.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…A period of moderate to heavy snow will
occur primarily Wednesday night before tapering off on Thursday.
Snowfall rates of greater than an inch per hour will lower
visibilities to a half mile at times during the heaviest snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Major fire destroys barn in Saranac

Click here for the Press-Republican story 

New York’s political leaders silent about state’s failure to raise cannabis funds

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

LPCA presents Sacre by Circa Contemporary Circus, Feb. 22

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

FBI joins criminal investigation of New York state troopers PBA

Click here for the Times-Union Story 

President Carter in hospice care

Staying Alive: Responding to Emergencies Set for February 18

The free program offers information about AED use, fire safety, Narcan administration, Stop the Bleed, and more.

PLATTSBURGH, NY (02/08/2023) —  “Staying Alive: Responding to Emergencies” is a free community event planned for Saturday, February 18, at the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The health and information fair will be held in the hospital’s Main Campus auditoriums, located on the first floor.

The event will feature displays, exhibits and information from the CVPH Clinical Education team, Alliance for Positive Health, EMT of CVPH and the Plattsburgh Fire Department.  Topics include providing assistance to someone choking, needing CPR or having a stroke; fire and safety prevention; using an AED; administering Narcan; using Stop the Bleed principles, and caring for yourself in an emergency.

“We’ve come together to share important information – specifically for people with little or no medical background.  Emergencies can happen at any time, anywhere, to anyone. Having some basic knowledge can make a difference while you wait for medical help to arrive. Our goal is to provide practical, useful information,” explained Shana Riel, CVPH Clinical Education Coordinator.

Participants are encouraged to use CVPH’s Main Entrance. Masking requirements remain in place.

Three northern New York high schools earn high school cheerleading sectional titles

Saranac, Northeastern Clinton Central and Moriah high schools all earning hardware in 2023

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

Peru Free Library Closed today, Friday, February 17, 2023

Inclement weather and very icy conditions forced the library closure.