The Peru Gazette

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Union leaders and families stood unified Aug. 31 calling for a repeal of HALT

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The union says staffing plays a big challenge in putting a new safety plan in place

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Clinton County Historical Association article follows: ‘A treasure in our midst’
Nestled in the hills of West Peru, called “the Patent,” with its small yet sturdy steeple prominent among the trees, lies St. Patrick’s Church. Solemnly beside the Church, amid a park-like setting with fourteen Stations of the Cross, is a Shrine to the founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini. The late Gordie Little from Hometown Cable described this Shrine as a “spiritual spot.” Many people have found it so and have left mementos for the spiritual gifts they experienced when visiting. The shrine was dedicated in 1947, just one year after Mother Cabrini was canonized by Pope Pius XII. She was the first saint with American citizenship. Much has been written about Mother Cabrini, the Italian-born Catholic nun, who Pope Leo XIII directed to go west instead of east. She left her mark in New York City and Chicago, and many communities in the United States, Europe and South America can claim her influence. As it happens, St. Patrick’s church in the Peru Patent became the site of one of the first shrines dedicated in remembrance of her, and it was her first shrine in Northern New York.
The story of St. Patrick’s Church begins in the 1840’s with the small Irish community that settled west of Peru village to farm and work in the mills and iron mines. The church itself went through many openings and closings and upgrades through the years, all supported by the local parishioners and their resolute priests. Descendants of these families are still in the area, families who worshipped and worked to keep the small church as a focal point for baptisms, weddings, funerals, and celebrations. The names of those original families are inscribed on the church bell.
In 1945, Father Harold McCabe was assigned as pastor to St. Patrick’s Church, which was a mission of the St. Catherine’s parish in Clintonville. Born in Port Henry and assigned over the years to a number of parishes in various areas of Clinton, Essex and St. Lawrence Counties, he was, according to the Plattsburgh Press Republican, “well known around Northern New York as an able speaker.” Father McCabe had his own radio show and was particularly devoted to Mother Cabrini. Educated at the Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg and St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto, Canada, he was ordained in 1936. Under his direction and with his encouragement, the local parishioners of St. Patrick’s made plans for the creation of the Shrine, raised the necessary funds, gathered the stones for the grotto, and hired local stonemason and carpenter Phillip Duprey to build the Shrine. Michael Langlois in the North Country Catholic noted that Phillip Duprey was second generation French-Canadian, constructing a shrine for an Italian born saint, beside a church built by Irish immigrants. As fitting with our story, Mother Cabrini would later be designated as patroness of immigrants. Mr. Duprey would go on to build the fourteen Stations of the Cross which dot the setting and were at the time the only outdoor Stations of the Cross in the North Country. Photos of Father McCabe and Phillip Duprey are in the shrine’s enclosure. Phillip Duprey is buried in the cemetery behind the church.
Father McCabe was known as the founder of the shrine and later as director of the shrine and through his efforts the shrine attracted thousands of visitors from the United States and Canada. He held services at the Shrine regularly until he was transferred in 1955.
Today, the quiet setting that Gordie Little visited in 2012 would still enchant him, would still have that spectacular scenery, and possess the “magic” he felt, and would still be on his list of special places. The grounds include trails, a pond, and a cemetery and are handicapped accessible. The area is special because of the generations of friends and parishioners who worked over the years to keep the church open and expand the surroundings. All are welcome at the Mother Cabrini Shrine on the hill in West Peru on 51 Patent Road.
Thank you to Deacon James Crowley, John Ryan, Hometown Cable, and Joyce Lucia-Kolb for sharing their information with CCHA.
Received January 28, 2022

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Numerous roads closed in Moriah, Westport, Essex and Crown Point

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By John T. Ryan 

Peru – The Peru Town Board appointed Kristen Marino as Interim Recreation Director at its August 22, 2022, board meeting. Marino will hold the position until the board hires a replacement for retired Recreation Director John Flynn. Marino previously served as assistant recreation director. She told the board she is a certified coach for modified softball ball and track and has coached varsity track and gymnastics. Marino said she doesn’t anticipate any children being on a waiting list for fall sports. There will not be an opening day event; instead, there will be a final day event and a moving-up ceremony. Thus far, 352 children have signed up for the fall soccer program. 

New York State imposed a 2023 budget 2% tax cap for all municipalities. Noting that Peru, especially the highway department, is encountering increased expenses, Supervisor Brandy McDonald explained why a local law permitting the town to exceed the tax cap is necessary. He said, “We have no intention of exceeding the cap, but a law has to be in place now, not later. We’d rather be safe than sorry. We want to be safe with everything going on, highway department expenses, and a double-digit health insurance increase (13% to 15%).” The board scheduled a public hearing regarding the local law for September 26 at 5:45 p.m. McDonald emphasized the board would not make a final decision on exceeding the tax cap until its annual budget meeting. Last year that meeting was held in mid-November. 

Highway Superintendent Michael Farrell asked town attorney Matt Favro to engage NYS DOT and the Peru Central School regarding water drainage issues in the vicinity of the Pleasant Street school entrance road. Heavy rain runoff from school property and NYS Route 22B adversely impacts several Elm Street residents. School property and state highway water runoff enters drainage lines and flows down a hill to Elm Street. Favro stated that the school and state are causing the problem; therefore, NYS DOT and Peru Central School, not the Town of Peru, should resolve the issue. 

Supervisor McDonald reported that Clinton County officials reviewed the town’s recent stage construction at Heyworth Mason Park. They concluded that the town had not violated any NYS flood plain regulations. 

In other actions, the board: 

Accepted a $25,550 bid from Granite State De-icing Supply of Merrimack, NH, for highway department salt brine application equipment. There was only one bidder. 

Approved Christopher Malin’s resignation from the Water-Sewer-Parks Department. Malin accepted a similar job with the City of Plattsburgh, where employees reportedly earn higher hourly wages and have more potential for pay growth. 

Approved a Sunday, September 4, See 3 Band concert at Heyworth Mason Park. There will be a bonus concert next Sunday, Sept. 4 from 5 to 7 pm (earlier due
to darkness).  The band canceled a previous concert due to a family illness.

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Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Monday, September 19th, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru. 

Your neighbors need and appreciate your donation.

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

Collaborative program addressed suffrage, racism and voting rights

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Veterans Motorcycle Association a proud supporter of each flight

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Paul Meyers is one of the most admired jazz guitarists active today. His classical guitar artistry finds him equally at home performing musical styles ranging from Bossa Nova to Be-Bop to Bartok – all played with impeccable technique and true passion. His fluid style and lyricism as both virtuoso guitarist-improviser and composer-arranger have won him praise and respect from colleagues, aficionados, and the media.

Paul Meyers has been a busy freelancer, sideman, and bandleader in and around New York City

since 1980. An eloquent and versatile improviser, Meyers’s list of credits reads like a Who’s Who in Jazz. He has been heard with an extraordinary range of jazz greats, including performances and recordings with: Geri Allen, Harry Allen, Kenny Barron, Andy Bey, Ron Carter, Ray Drummond, Eliane Elias, Clare Fischer, Sonny Fortune, Eddie Gomez, Annie Ross, Wynton Marsalis, Bill Mays, Rufus Reid, Frank Wess, and Steve Wilson.

A gifted composer and arranger, evolving from the vast jazz repertoire he has studied and performed over four decades, Meyers takes the listener to a much advanced, fresh place of creativity, stretching traditional boundaries while never losing the basic song form or joy. His harmonic structures are new and often unexpected and open a new world of chord voicings and usages.

“World on a String” is a project for which Paul has been composing for several years. Leo Traversa on bass and Vanderlei Pereira on drums – a pair of dynamic musicians active in the New York City jazz scene – partner Paul on nylon string guitar to perform his originals and arrangements. Music that fuses jazz tradition with rhythms and concepts from Brazilian and Latin, folk, classical music and beyond is Paul’s personal version of jazz with a world music perspective-all with a swinging, grooving foundation.

“World on a String” performs at Weatherwatch Farm in Saranac on Labor Day: Sunday, September 5 at 3:00 pm. Admission $20 at the door. Current public health guidelines will be followed. Further info: telephone 518-293-7613, e-mail ambrown.hillholl@gmail.com or visit www.hillandhollowmusic.org

“…one of the most eloquent jazz guitarists since Kenny Burrell…” The New York Times

“Meyers is clearly one of the best guitarists and composers around” allaboutjazz.com

“One of the great things about NYC’s jazz scene is the presence of musicians like Paul Meyers-so

consistently satisfying that we sometimes take his greatness for granted!” Highlights in Jazz

George “Speedy” Arnold and his store have been staples of the town for over 6 decades

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This is a serious threat to local apple and grape growers 

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Story published several days ago, but the threat is deadly serious. 

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Community members helped pick up the pieces Saturday

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Peru – Saturday, August 27, 2022 – Registration time at the Annual Ron For Jon held at Forrence Orchards on Mannix Road. The Gazette couldn’t stay for the race, but we expect to receive photos later in the day. Perfect day for running and it looked like a wonderful turnout. It’s a great family event, as you’ll see in these photos.

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She has had eye-popping fundraising, a landslide primary victory and a huge budget full of wins.

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