The Peru Gazette

By John T Ryan 

Peru, NY – On September 30, 2025, Jeremiah Cross’s six-year term as Peru’s tax assessor ended, and on October 1, Sean Masten succeeded Cross. Peru contracts with the Clinton  County Real Property office for assessment services, so both men are county, not town, employees. When Masten isn’t in Peru, he’s either in the Town of Ausable, where he is also the town assessor, or at the Clinton County Real Property Office. 

Masten brings a local perspective to his work. A graduate of Seton Catholic and Clinton Community College, he is now pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance. Before joining the county in 2018, he had two years of title research experience. Reflecting on his current assignment, he said, “Even though I grew up here, there were many roads I’d never been on. I’ve had to drive every road. Jeremiah did a wonderful job, so I stepped into a cushy position. He basically did a total reassessment each year and kept assessments up to date.” 

Looking ahead, Masten will begin the Peru 2026 assessment process in a few days. In late April or sooner, his assessments will be mailed to property owners. He emphasized, “If people have any questions or any concerns about their assessment, or if they’re unsure if they’re getting the exemptions, or if they have any questions, please call or come in. I can’t help people if they don’t ask.” Masten’s office number is 518-643-2475, Extension 104. His Peru office hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Commonly overlooked exemptions include being a Vietnam veteran or having an income below $34,399. 

If questions remain after discussing with Masten, taxpayers have further options. They must file a grievance Form RP524, which Sean can provide. The form is also available at the Clinton County Property Office in Plattsburgh or at the state website: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/contest/grievproced.htm. May 26 is the last day to file a grievance, which is also Grievance Day. Peru’s Board of Assessment Review considers grievances from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. People can make their case in person or simply rely on the RP524 Form. Supporting evidence is essential for any successful grievance. 

The regular meeting of the Peru Town Board was held on Monday February 9, 2026 at the Peru

Town Hall. Those present were Mr.Craig Randall, Supervisor; Mr. Kregg Bruno, Councilman ;

Mr. Eric Duquette, Councilman; Mr. Melvin Irwin, Councilman; Mr. Nick Weaver, Councilman;

Mr. Matthew Favro, Town Attorney and Mrs. Christine Crawford, Town Clerk. Also present

were Mr. Courtney Tetrault, Water/Sewer Superintendent ; Mr. Michael Farrell, Highway

Superintendent; Ms. Pamela Barber, Confidential Secretary to the Board; Ms. Helen Nerska,

Historian; Mrs. Kristen Marino, Recreation Director; Mr. Tyler Jarvis, Deputy Highway

Superintendent and Mr. T’chaka Sikelianos, Dog Control Officer.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mr. Randall, with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion by Mr. Bruno seconded by Mr. Duquette to Accept Reports from all Departments

(Water/Sewer/Valcour; Highway; Town Clerk, Dog Control; Youth Department; Code/Zoning;

Supervisor’s Report; Court; Website; and Banking Reports, JCEO.)

Ayes 5 Noes 0

Motion Carried

Motion by Mr. Irwin; seconded by Mr. Bruno to approve the minutes from the January 29th,

2026 Special Meeting.

Ayes 5 Noes 0

Motion Carried

Community Input

Mr. John Ryan talks about how the public should have more information about executive

sessions. Mr. Favro will look into this.

Discussion: AES Northeast PWWTP Project Update

Nathan Bull updates everyone on how well the project is going. With the good jump on site

work over the summer, the building is enclosed enough for work to continue through winter.

Funding approval on grants is backed up, but the project is cost tracking very well.

Communication between all parties is good. Read more »

New Program Will Help Communities Plan, Finance and Build Housing for Working Families

Albany, March 5, 2026, News Release – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of Accelerate Workforce Housing, a multi-year, multi-partner initiative to address the critical shortage of housing for working families and individuals in the North Country region. Empire State Development (ESD) provided a $3 million grant, matched by contributions from regional funders convened by the Adirondack Community Foundation, to unlock a more than $3.5 million fund that will create a pipeline for developing new homes that support local economic and community health.

“Solving the housing crisis is a top priority for New York, and I applaud the North Country Regional Economic Development Council and its partners for their collaborative effort to unlock the essential housing needed to keep and build talent in the region,” Governor Hochul said.“This $3 million state commitment enables the Accelerate Workforce Housing project to expand access to quality, year-round homes near population centers, strengthening the North Country workforce pipeline for employees and businesses alike.”

This initiative is supported by the North Country Regional Economic Development Council’s (REDC) Housing Work Group, which has brought stakeholders together to identify public and private sector solutions to increase the supply of owner and renter occupied housing for all income levels. It also aligns with Governor Hochul’s commitment to tackling New York’s housing crisis.

The lack of available housing has become a significant barrier to attracting and retaining the workforce essential for the North Country’s vitality. The Accelerate Workforce Housing initiative specifically targets the needs of working families who earn too much to qualify for traditional housing assistance but are priced out of the current market, such as teachers, nonprofit workers, and healthcare aides. It will support housing opportunities for households with incomes between 120-200% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has invested $97.5 million to create or preserve more than 2,100 affordable homes in the North Country.

The initiative is built on a three-tiered development pipeline targeted at communities in the Adirondack region with populations of less than 10,000 seeking to add up to 20 housing units:

• Technical Assistance: The Lake Champlain – Lake George Regional Planning Board (LCLGRPB), with funding from the Adirondack Community Foundation and partners, will lead a technical assistance program for North Country municipalities that want to build more housing. The goal is to help 15 communities achieve “Pro-Housing Communities” certification from New York State and assist five more with updating local regulations to encourage housing development.

• Pre-Development: LCLGRPB will fund pre-development work, such as architectural engineering and infrastructure assessments, to advance housing projects to the “shovel-ready” stage. The goal is to have at least five communities complete the pre-development process for a total of at least 50 housing units. Projects will leverage philanthropic funding and a 1:1 municipal funding match.

• Capital for Construction: ESD awarded $3 million to the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) to establish the North Country Housing Capital Revolving Loan Fund to provide flexible financing for both nonprofit and for-profit housing developers.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Housing is the foundation of a strong regional economy and a core priority of Governor Hochul. Through the Accelerate Workforce Housing initiative, we are closing critical gaps by aligning housing supply with employer demand—creating opportunity, strengthening communities, and fueling equitable growth across the North Country.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Country’s natural environment, open spaces and outdoor recreation have driven record investments by seasonal second home owners, remote workers and short-term rental investors. The result is a significant decline in quality, middle-income housing available for the North Country’s workforce. New York State empowered the REDCs to develop strategies and actions for economic growth specific to their regions. Housing was identified as a primary goal area and is now part of the REDC’s Economic Development Strategy.

North Country Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair James McKenna said, “The lack of workforce-aligned housing has been a barrier to recognizing our region’s full potential. By expanding quality housing options, we are stabilizing our talent pool and revitalizing the heart of our small towns. Thanks to the dedicated work of our partners and this vital state funding, we are finally building sustainable infrastructure for the North Country.”

In addition to the $3 million state grant, the Adirondack Community Foundation and Cloudsplitter Foundation convened regional funders to raise $500,000 in additional philanthropic funding for the project, which includes a keystone $250,000 matching grant from the Hearst Foundations and $250,000 from other private, family and donor-advised funds that are committed to supporting transformative ideas in the region.

For more information on the technical assistance and pre-development components of the Accelerate Workforce Housing project, please contact Kim Trombly, Adirondack Community Foundation’s Director of Community Impact, at kim@adkcommunityfoundation.org.

DANC will announce when applications are open for the North Country Housing Capital Revolving Loan Fund at a future date. Loan funds can only be applied to the capital portions of the project. The fund will be matched by 10%, or $300,000, developer cash or equity into the project. Read more »

Click here for the NCPR story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

ANCA’s Jill Henck shares her experience purchasing and operating an electric vehicle (EV) in the Adirondacks 

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Plattsburgh Blues & Jazz is thrilled to welcome back the Danielle Nicole Band to Retro Live on Sunday, March 29th at 630 PM for an unforgettable night of powerhouse blues, soul, and roots music.

Danielle Nicole is one of the most electrifying performers on the blues scene today. An eight-time Blues Music Award winner and Grammy-nominated artist, she is celebrated for her rich, soulful voice, commanding stage presence, and masterful bass playing.
Backed by her stellar band, Danielle Nicole delivers a dynamic show that blends blues, soul, rock, and gospel influences, creating a performance that is both deeply moving and irresistibly fun. Danielle first rose to prominence with the internationally acclaimed group Trampled Under Foot before launching her award-winning solo career, earning accolades from fans, critics, and fellow musicians to become one of the top live blues/roots acts in the world.

For this special evening, Retro Live transforms into an intimate blues club setting, with high top tables, chairs, wrap around balconey and a dance floor, creating the perfect atmosphere to visit with friends and experience one of today’s most compelling live blues artists up close.

If you love powerful vocals, deep grooves, and world-class musicianship, this is a show you won’t want to miss. She is all over the world, and it’s an honor to have her return to Plattsburgh for an amazing live concert.

Check this YouTube Video out folks.

Danielle Nicole Band
📍 Retro Live – Plattsburgh, NY
📅 Sunday, March 29
🚪 Doors: 6:00 PM
🎶 Show: 6:30–8:30 PM
Tickets 20 dollars in advance at https://sevendaystickets.ticketsauce.com/e/danielle-nicole-band-at-retro-live
and in person at Alpha Stereo (Rt 3) and Lakeshore Candy (Skyway) . Scross-border ID are 5 dollars at the door, and Canadians with a passport are free (our no-tariff cultural and cross border friendship policy)

Presented by Plattsburgh Blues & Jazz.

North Creek aims to reclaim its “ski town” heritage, linking Gore Mountain’s 250k annual visitors to a transformed downtown 

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Click here for the March 11 Planning Board Agenda

Saving New York Families Up to $450 Million Per Month on Grocery Costs

Albany, March 4, 2026 – During National School Breakfast Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today highlighted that within just the first six months of the school year, 275 million free school meals have been served in schools statewide. The Governor celebrated this milestone today alongside students and administrators at Albany School of Humanities.

Governor Hochul’s Universal School Meals Program, launched earlier this year, ensures that every student in New York State has access to a healthy breakfast and lunch at school, creating more opportunities for students to succeed in school. By eliminating any financial requirements to receive this benefit, New York State has leveled the playing field by taking the burden off of families.

“Today marks a major milestone in our overall affordability agenda, ensuring that New York students are not going hungry while they’re at school,” Governor Hochul said. “Students do better in the classroom when they’re not worried about where their next meal is coming from. In just six months, more than 275 million free school meals have been served – proof that New York is stepping up to support our children’s success while bringing down grocery costs for families statewide.”

In the first six months of the academic year, New York has:

• Delivered more than 275 million free school meals to New York students so far this school year
• Helped families statewide save up to $450 million per month on grocery costs

The FY26 Enacted Budget included $340 million for school meals, a $160 million year-to-year increase, requiring all school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools that participate in the national school lunch and breakfast program to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all students regardless of their families’ income. Under this initiative, the State will pay the student’s share of costs for all meals served to students not already receiving free meals. This historic initiative expands eligibility to an additional 280,000 students who now have access to free school meals.

Albany, March 4, 2026 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State has received the top spot in a national ranking for technology laws that are keeping kids safe online. The Anxious Generation Movement (TAG) analyzed state policies across the nation in a new study called “The Childhood Index,” a first-of-its-kind ranking of all 50 states on how well their tech laws and policies support healthy, flourishing childhoods, both online and offline. This honor recognizes Governor Hochul’s nation-leading online safety efforts, including the SAFE for Kids Act, the New York Child Data Protection Act, social media warning labels law, safeguards for AI Companions, distraction-free learning, and her Safe by Design proposal that is part of the FY27 Executive Budget.

“As New York’s first mom governor, I’m proud that we are leading the nation in keeping kids safe online,” Governor Hochul said. “From groundbreaking restrictions on addictive social media feeds and data collection from minors to guardrails on AI chatbots and a bell to bell school cellphone ban, we are putting our kids first. These pioneering policies ensure our kids are shielded from predators, scammers and harmful algorithms, setting a gold standard other states can follow. We will keep pushing forward so every child can thrive safely in today’s digital world.”

The Anxious Generation New York Times Bestselling Author Jonathan Haidt said, “At its heart, The Anxious Generation Movement is about reclaiming childhood — not about screens or content moderation. The Childhood Index reflects that focus by asking a simple question: Are we building environments that allow kids to flourish?”

a2ihub photo

Who: Adirondack Innovation Initiative (A2i) has been developed by Adirondack Community Foundation to connect people, ideas, and resources to allow more people to live in the Adirondacks full time with a good job by building and supporting a tech innovation ecosystem and network; driving regional economic resilience by fostering entrepreneurship, supporting local startups, and expanding tech-enabled remote and local workers to thrive here is one essential piece.

What: A series of remote worker meetups taking place throughout March, hosted by Adirondack Innovation Initiative (A2i) at Adirondack Community Foundation; coinciding with National Telecommuters Appreciation Week (March 1-7).

The first event took place on March 3 in Lake Placid, with more than 30 people in attendance.

When: Select dates and locations:

Indian Lake – Welcome Center March 10, 5:00 p.m.
6132 NY-28, Indian Lake

Jay / Keene – Recovery Lounge March 11, 5:00 p.m.
12198 Old Rt 9N, Jay

Chestertown – Town of Chester Public Library March 12, 6:00 p.m.
6307 Rt. 9, Chestertown

Saranac Lake – Hotel Saranac March 13, 4:30 p.m.
100 Main Street, Saranac Lake

Wilmington – A2i Residence March 14, 5:00 p.m.
108 Indian Rock Road, Wilmington

Cost: Free. Light refreshments provided.

Additional information: Visit a2ihub.org.

Click here for the NCPR story 

Permanent exhibit to open in 2027, includes Fulton Fryar’s cabin that shows past segregation in the Adirondacks

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Participants must identify 10 or more birds 

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Justin Wilson, Chairman of the Town of Peru Planning Board, called the meeting of Wednesday December 10, 2025 to order at 6pm.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL:

                                JUSTIN WILSON, CHAIRMAN                               PRESENT

                                ALISON WEBBINARO, VICE CHAIR                      ABSENT

                                DANIEL HAMILTON                                              PRESENT

                                MARK HAMILTON                                                PRESENT

                                ROBERT LEPAGE                                                   PRESENT

                                GARRETT MASTIC                                                 PRESENT

                                JERRY MCGOVERN                                                ABSENT

                                PETER STONE                                                         PRESENT

Approval of  November 2025 Minutes

J.Wilson shared with the Board the minutes from the last meeting

MOTION:M.Hamilton made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected, Second G.Mastic

Roll Call: D.Hamilton-y,M.Hamilton-y,R.LePage-y,G.Mastic-y,P.Stone-y, J.Wilson-y

MOTION CARRIED

Mr. Wilson opens the floor to Public Hearing. He let everyone know that there are six Board members present, which is enough for a quorum.  The applicants are ok to proceed without a full Board

1.P2025-0019 Site Plan Review-Sign                      Americu Credit Union

280.-1-31.2

700 Bear Swamp Rd

Applicant not present

This is a simple sign change, for name.  Dimensions remain the same.

No questions from the Board

MOTION:P.Stone made a motion to approve the application as submitted, Second M.Hamilton

Roll Call: D.Hamilton-y,M.Hamilton-y,R.LePage-y,G.Mastic-y,P.Stone-y, J.Wilson-y

MOTION CARRIED

    2.P2025-021 Site Plan Review-Sign                             Eric Duquette

                                                                                                327 Route 22B

                                                                                                268.-1-31.2

Applicants are present

Mr. Duquette explains the one sided sign will be parallel to the road with small down facing lights, replacing the current 14 year old sign.

No questions from the Board

MOTION:G.Mastic made a motion to approve the application as submitted, Second M.Hamilton

Roll Call: D.Hamilton-y,M.Hamilton-y,R.LePage-y,G.Mastic-y,P.Stone-y, J.Wilson-y

MOTION CARRIED

    3.P2025-109 2-Lot Minor Subdivision                        Donald and Linda Covel

                                                                                                842 Mannix Rd

                                                                                                267.-1-13.1

Mr. Covel here along with Dean Lashway

Mr. Lashway explains the application.  The APA boundary is right where the proposed subdivision will be.   The portion to be subdivided out will be totally outside the APA, while the portion remaining will be in the APA.

It was acknowledged a SEQRA is required

SEQRA REVIEW:

MOTION:P.Stone made a motion to declare as an unlisted action and the Town of Peru Planning Board as the Lead Agency, Second M.Hamilton

Roll Call: D.Hamilton-y,M.Hamilton-y,R.LePage-y,G.Mastic-y,P.Stone-y, J.Wilson-y

MOTION CARRIED

J.Wilson went over the SEQRA;The Planning Board concurred there are no negative impacts

MOTION:M.Hamilton made a motion to declare negative declaration, Second P.Stone

Roll Call: D.Hamilton-y,M.Hamilton-y,R.LePage-y,G.Mastic-y,P.Stone-y, J.Wilson-y

MOTION CARRIED

MOTION:M.Hamilton made a motion to approve the application as submitted, Second G.Mastic

Roll Call: D.Hamilton-y,M.Hamilton-y,R.LePage-y,G.Mastic-y,P.Stone-y, J.Wilson-y

MOTION CARRIED

OTHER BUSINESS

The Board must elect the officers for the 2026 year.

MOTION:P.Stone made a motion to elect Garrett Mastic to be Chairman, Second M.Hamilton

Roll Call: D.Hamilton-y,M.Hamilton-y,R.LePage-y,G.Mastic-y,P.Stone-y, J.Wilson-y

MOTION CARRIED MOTION:M.Hamilton made a motion to elect Peter Stone as Vice-Chairman Second G.Mastic

Roll Call: D.Hamilton-y,M.Hamilton-y,R.LePage-y,G.Mastic-y,P.Stone-y, J.Wilson-y

MOTION CARRIED

MOTION:G.Mastic made a motion to move Robert LePage from Alternate to Boardmember to cover the seat left by Justin Wilson as he will be deployed for 2026., Second M.Hamilton

Roll Call: D.Hamilton-y,M.Hamilton-y,R.LePage-y,G.Mastic-y,P.Stone-y, J.Wilson-y

MOTION CARRIED

Christine will let the Town Board know these recommendations

MOTION: Mr. Wilson made a motion to adjourn at 7pm

Voice Vote: all agreed

MOTION CARRIED

Taylor Jo Swan

Codes & Zoning Secretary

Codes and Zoning Department

3036 Main street

Peru, NY 12972

(518)-643-2745 ext. 106

PLATTSBURGH, March 3, 2026  – Active educators in Clinton and Essex Counties are invited to apply for a $1000 grant that will assist them in their classroom endeavors. The local association of the Retired Educators of New York (RENY), known as the Northeastern Zone (NEZ), will offer the Kramer Memorial Educator Award of $1000 to be awarded to a local educator. 

This biennial award honors Dr. Karl Kramer, former professor and mentor to Education Majors at SUNY Plattsburgh, and long time devoted member of the Northeastern Zone of RENY. The grant is designed to assist active educators in developing and implementing an innovative program or project. 

To be eligible for the grant, an educator must be a full time teacher, nurse, counselor, or administrator in a public school district in the Northeastern Zone region, Clinton and Essex counties (Lake Placid, Minerva, Newcomb). The full grant amount must be used for a program or project to improve instruction, academic achievement, or in support of a current issue in a classroom, school, or district. The grant is for the 2026-2027 school year. The winner of the grant will be determined by the end of June, 2026. 

Informational packets with directions and contact information were sent electronically to District Superintendents in March, 2026 for distribution to educators in their districts. Please contact your Superintendent’s Office for information packets if you didn’t receive one. Additionally, links for the application can be found on the NEZ (https://www.renynez.com) and NCTRC websites (https://www.northcountrytrc.com). Grant applications must be submitted electronically to the Educator Award Committee by May 16, 2026.

Click here for the Vermont Public story 

March 12^th, 2:30 pm, Meadowbrook Healthcare, 154 Prospect Avenue, Plattsburgh. Welcome to the Witherill with memories shared from the book authored by the late Susan Howel Hamlin.

March 12, 6 pm, Advisor’s Room, Beekmantown High School, Haynes Road Entrance, West Chazy– The Davidson Sisters: Darkness and Light. Local teenaged poets and sisters, Lucretia and Margaret Davidson, were once known nationwide as tragic and romantic figures in the literary world. Through anecdotal stories, journal entries, letters, and their own works, Author Lisabeth Guay will share insights into who these two extraordinary young ladies of Plattsburgh once were.  Seating is limited. Call 518-561-0340 before January 21 to reserve a seat.

March 20^th, 12:30 pm, Plattsburgh Senior Center, 5139 North Catherine Street, Plattsburgh. Struggle in the Snow: The Storming of Quebec with Thaddeus Booth-Trudo.  New Year’s Eve 2025 was the 250th Anniversary of the attempted storming of Quebec City by American forces under the command of Generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold. Learn more about this event and the brave patriots who participate in this early revolutionary war battle.

March 31st, 6:45 pm, Lake Forest Retirement Community, 8 Lake Forest Drive, Plattsburgh. The Clinton County Suffrage Story with Helen Nerska. After nearly 70 years of persuasion, New York State allowed women to vote in all elections.  Hear the stories of the many Clinton County women and men who dedicated themselves to achieving this right for women. 

Customers invited to round up purchases during March to fund critical community services

Schenectady, N.Y., March 2, 2025– Market 32 and Price Chopper are inviting customers to round up their purchase total to the nearest dollar at checkout to benefit local United Way chapters and the various nonprofit partners they help support across the chain’s six-state footprint. The campaign runs now through March 31.

Funds raised will help advance United Way’s work addressing critical community needs, including food insecurity, housing stability, access to education, childcare, and financial empowerment programs that support individuals and families.

“United Way works at the heart of communities to identify urgent needs and mobilize resources where they can make the greatest impact,” said Pam Cerrone, director of community relations for Market 32 and Price Chopper. “Every donation—often just a few cents—adds up quickly to help fund essential services. And because funds raised stay local, customers can feel confident their contributions are directly helping neighbors in the same communities where they live, work, and shop.”

United Way partners with a broad network of vetted nonprofit agencies to ensure resources are distributed effectively and strategically. In addition to funding direct services, United Way convenes community

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the NCPR story