The Peru Gazette

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By John T. Ryan

Peru – Deputy Supervisor Jim Douglass chaired the January 23rd Peru Town Board meeting.

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell said his department would repair lawns damaged by the town’s snow plows. Call his office at 518-643-8657 to report any damage. Thanks to its new road salting program, very little sand, if any, is being used, and the department will not need to sweep streets this year.

Farrell also reported that C&S Engineering inspected the Telegraph Road bridge needing repair. The engineers confirmed the bridges underlying culverts are collapsing and needing repair. Farrell said the road will have to be closed if the bridge and underlying culvert are not replaced by 2024. Farrell is applying for a Bridges NY grant to help fund the project.

Code Office Bob Guynup reported one bid had been received to date for the School Street house demolition project.

Other important actions included the following:

• Approving the Highway Department’s purchase of a 10,000 salt brine storage tank costing $17,928.
• Reappointing Allison Webbinaro to a seven-year term on the Planning Board.
• Approving sending Matt Houser to a 2A water operator training/licensing program.

• The board held an executive session with no action taken following the session.

By John T. Ryan 

Peru – In June 2013, Doug Brown took part in the North Country Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Observing a Peru Gazette photo of the send-off ceremony, Doug’s niece Lori Brown Salotto commented, “Uncle Doug looks wonderful for 92.” Today she’d undoubtedly comment, “Uncle Doug looks wonderful for 102!” What’s the secret of Doug Brown’s long, active life? He says, “I’m always looking, thinking ten years ahead of things I want to do. So I keep busy all the time. That’s the only thing.” 

In many ways keeping busy has been Doug Brown’s life story. As a teenager, he worked at the family farm in Mooers. During 1944-45 he served as an aircraft mechanic in the U.S. Army Air Corps with service in England, Holland, Germany, and France.  In 1946, he and his father Percy opened Peru Hardware which Doug and his late wife Helen owned until 1985 when their daughter Wendy and her husband Bob Silverman took over. From 1953 to 1980, Brown worked as a Peru rural letter carrier. 

When Doug wasn’t working at the store or delivering mail, he constructed a home on River Road in Peru; during off-hours, he enjoyed boating, being at his lakeside camp, square dancing, go-cart racing, and spending time with family. Despite wearing a leg brace, golfing has been one of his favorite retirement pursuits. He’s scored two holes-in-one; the hole-in-one trophy on display in his living room is undoubtedly one of his proudest possessions. At age 99, he played golf three times. 

Today, wood carving, especially carving brightly colored birds, is his favorite hobby. Entering his spacious living room, visitors see the birds almost everywhere. Lumber, saws, and tools of every type fill the workshop in his oversized garage. He explained, “I select the wood and cut the patterns in that workshop.” Then, he continues the project in his well-organized downstairs workshop using fine carving tools, sanders, sealers, and paints. He said, “Some birds take up to four or five weeks, depending on how many projects I’ve got going. The loon is the last one I completed.”  

Doug’s activities aren’t limited to indoors. He operates his snowplow-equipped pickup truck during winter and mows his lawn during summer. He loves driving his van. Doug said, “I drive to Plattsburgh two or three times a week; yesterday, I ate lunch at Wendy’s.” During good weather, Doug drives to Champlain Valley Wood Carvers’ meetings. 

News articles repeatedly stress keeping active as a key to a long, happy life. Doug Brown’s first 102 years exemplify the wisdom of that advice. Remember his words, “I’m always looking, thinking ten years ahead of things I want to do. So I keep busy all the time. That’s the only thing.” 

Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Monday, January 30, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru. On November 28, CVPH collected twenty units in Peru, a great showing. Please continue your generosity. All blood collected is utilized in our local tri-county region.

The blood drive is coordinated by St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273. 

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The two top priority health issues that were identified through the assessment were: Prevent Chronic Diseases and Promote Well-Being and Prevent Mental and Substance Use Disorders

Clinton County, January 23, 2023. The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD), along with UVM Health Network-CVPH, its partner in community health assessment and planning, is pleased to announce the release of the 2022-2024 Clinton County Community Health Assessment. A community health assessment (CHA) provides a comprehensive picture of a community’s health status, factors leading to health inequities and resources available to improve health. The assessment also includes the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which details interventions and activities that a variety of partners will take on collectively in an effort to improve the overall health of residents. 

The process to complete the assessment and plan in Clinton County takes approximately 14 months and includes a resident health survey, a stakeholder survey, a review of over 300 health indicators, a community health priority-setting session and the creation of shared action plans. 

The two top priority health issues that were identified through the assessment were: Prevent Chronic Diseases and Promote Well-Being and Prevent Mental and Substance Use Disorders, the same priority areas featured in the 2019-2021 CHA. 

“The current assessment and improvement plan most definitely reflect an update to what we know about health in our community and what we feel we need to do about it versus an overhaul in our thinking,” states Mandy Snay, Director of Health Planning & Promotion at CCHD. “Priority areas have not changed for several assessment cycles, which continues to speak to the complexity of the issues and solutions needed to make a lasting impact.” 

Despite no change in priority health issues, there were small changes made to the process that are reflected in the final documents. For example, survey tools were adjusted to improve the type of analysis that could be done. For the first time, virtual attendance options were offered for priority-setting events to maximize participation. These small changes allowed assessment leaders to better understand resident concerns, inequities and service gaps. Ms. Snay adds, “We were able to use this deeper understanding to expand the assessment’s ‘Community Profile’, which, in my opinion, is the most important piece of the assessment as it informs the action plans of the CHIP.” The current CHIP contains six action plans. 

The Clinton County 2022-2024 Community Health Assessment and the resulting community health improvement plan can be found at www.clintonhealth.org/pdf%20files/CHA_CHIP.pdf 

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She’s a Paul Smith’s student

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1. Call Meeting To Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION:  Approval of Minutes for the Organizational Meeting of January 9, 2023 and Regular Town Board Meeting of January 9, 2023. 

5. Community Input.

6. MOTION/DISCUSSION:  Permission to Go to Bid for Additional Salt Brine Storage Tank. 

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Reappointment of Allison Webbinaro to the Planning Board.

8. MOTION/DISCUSSION:  Approval to Send Matthew Houser to 2A Water School in Cortland, NY.

9. MOTION/DISCUSSION:  Telegraph Rd. South Culvert Update.

10. DISCUSSION:  Other Business. 

11. DISCUSSION:  Public Comments on Agenda Items Only. 

12. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay December 2022 Late Bills.

13. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay January 2023 Bills.

14. MOTION:  Adjourn to Executive Session.

15. MOTION:  Return from Executive Session. 

16. MOTION: Adjourn Meeting.

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Highlights Efforts to Build Community Resilience to Flooding, Restore and Connect Healthy Ecosystems, Promote Environmental Justice, and Educate the Next Generation

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today released the 2020-2022 Great Lakes Program Report (PDF) that highlights collaborative efforts to conserve, restore, protect, and enhance New York’s Great Lakes land and water resources. The report is prepared every two years and highlights partnerships and achievements completed during the prior two years that support New York’s Great Lakes Action Agenda, including improving shoreline and tributary resilience, restoring and connecting aquatic habitats, educating the next generation of environmentally literate, stewardship-minded citizens and environmental professionals, and building capacity in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution, also known as Environmental Justice communities.

“The Great Lakes are an invaluable source of inspiration, beauty, and recreation, critical to the health and well-being of communities along their shores,” Commissioner Seggos said. “This report details the impact of New York’s Great Lakes Action Agenda and efforts underway by DEC and our many partners to collaborate and protect the shared natural resources in our state and throughout the region.”

The 2020-2022 Great Lakes Program Report (PDF) highlights significant achievements, including:

1. Investing in environmental justice and disadvantaged communities impacted by climate change and pollution by providing funding, training, and education and outreach for these underrepresented areas;
2. Restoring beneficial uses, including recreation, scenic beauty, and fish and wildlife habitat for environmental justice communities in the Rochester Embayment and Buffalo River Areas of Concern;
3. Demonstrating science-informed, ecosystem-based approaches for nature-based shoreline and riparian restoration that enhance resiliency and habitat, and ensure clean waterways;
4. Engaging more than 300 New York State middle school students in environmental monitoring at Lake Ontario parks and tributaries through the inaugural “Day in the Life of Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River program” supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Great Lakes National Program Office; and
5. Securing $40.8 million in federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding for 207 projects to advance the State’s initiatives and build on its commitment to restore the shorelines and waterways of New York’s Great Lakes.

Auditions run two days: Jan. 28 and 29

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Event organizers say there are more than 200 medical professionals on hand to help anyone, participating in the games or not, that is in need of assistance

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Two-day event to take place at Port Henry Beach

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Mooers Forks family metal roofing and siding business continues to transition and grow

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