The Peru Gazette

The regular meeting of the Peru Town Board was held on Monday February 23, 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. Scott Thurber, Town Justice; Mr. Courtney Tetrault, Water/Sewer Superintendent; Mr.

Michael Farrell, Highway Superintendent; Ms. Pamela Barber, Confidential Secretary to the

Board; 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. Irwin; seconded by Mr. Bruno to approve the minutes from the February 9th,

2026 Regular Meeting.

Ayes 5 Noes 0

Motion Carried

Community Input

Rocky Divoll was here giving an update on the Library. Stacy Bousquet is doing a fabulous job.

Although the town supports the Library operating budget, Mr. Divoll says that donations are

down at this time. The Library has a lot of free programs, with an upcoming Iditarod

presentation that will be very informative and fun. Mr. Divoll offers an open invitation to the

Board members to attend a future Library Board meeting. Mr. Randall expresses the Town’s

thanks for the great things happening at the Library.

Discussion: Engineering Update on Telegraph Road Over Dry Mill Brook

Mr. Randall goes over the Project Status Report for this project. The project is currently on

schedule and within the budget

RESOLUTION NUMBER: 26.02-23-1 Read more »

Multi-year expansion project now complete with enhanced assisted living and amenities

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Scattered outages, locally slick travel possible through Tuesday morning

Click here for teh MYNBC5 story 

The Adirondack Park Agency is one step closer to moving from Ray Brook

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

The Recovery Lounge provides space for artists from around the region, but has struggled recently due to funding cuts

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

Through a variety of different situations, everyone experiences pain and suffers unexpected loss at some time in their lives.  The goal ofAn Evening of Healing is to open communication for attendees to learn where and how to find strength, connect with people so healing can begin, and leave with a sense of hope and purpose.  Members from previous panels will be in attendance as well as our new panel who will share their stories of strength.

The program will be introduced by members of our Evening of Healing Committee.  Our panel discussions will be led by members Bonnie Black, Deena Giltz McCullough, and Sally Meisenheimer.  All the committee members have experienced loss, trauma, and life events where they struggled and consequently found ways to become stronger and more resilient.

Our Panelists have remarkable stories of resilience and thriving and who include:

• Dena Archer, who has a story of emerging resilient from racial traumas

• Damien Battinelli, of Your Space Between, Inc., will be joining us as a panelist to discuss his focus on ending negative stigmas, supporting military veterans, and preventing suicide.  His 9/11 experience along with suicide ideation has motivated him to  form this non-profit.
• Dragos Banu, MD, finding strength and healing after his infant daughter’s death.

The musical interludes will be performed by Jay Lasage.

Recipients of Be The One Scholarship will accept their scholarships and present their stories. Created in 2019, these scholarships are a means to reach graduating seniors in Clinton County and ask questions related to mental health and suicide prevention. The scholarship gives individuals an opportunity to discover how they can “Be the One” to make a difference by reducing stigma, sharing stories of hope and encouragement, brainstorming creative messaging to include social media campaigns to save lives.  This year we are joined by Keep Another Tomorrow (KAT) Foundation, with their generous support we are giving out four scholarships in place of two.

Parking on site at the Newman Center is reserved for those who have difficulty with mobility.  All others, please park in the Kehoe parking lot across the street.  The Kehoe lot can be accessed from either Broad or Rugar Street.

For questions, please call the Clinton County NY Coalition to Prevent Suicide Chair, Bonnie Black, at 518-578-1612 or Dana Jeweler of the Evening of Healing Committee at 518-578-0844.

Shepherd’s Pie 

Fruit

Bread 

Dessert 

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., take-out only, at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972. 

All are invited and welcome!

Demonstrators demanded the release of the three detained immigrants and called on Vermont police to answer for their role in the raid.

Click here for the Seven Days story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Plattsburgh YMCA “Statement*

We were deeply saddened and disturbed to learn of allegations of physical abuse and inappropriate discipline by a now-former employee against children in our Bright Beginnings Childcare Center. We’ve since terminated this person’s employment and are cooperating fully with state and local authorities as they investigate the situation.

While investigating these allegations, the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) found additional licensing violations, including failure to timely report abuse. These findings have led to the suspension of our Center’s childcare license, effective immediately. The Center will be closed until further notice.

We are heartbroken for those affected by these allegations which go against everything we stand for. The Plattsburgh YMCA has long-standing child protection policies and procedures designed to protect children in our care, and these violations highlight a failure to do so, which is completely unacceptable. We have placed certain members of Y leadership on administrative leave while this is investigated by OCFS and law enforcement police. Following the investigations, we will be reviewing our policies, supervision practices, and training procedures to ensure they reflect the strongest possible standards for child safety.

While this will not erase what has happened, we are hopeful that the board’s swift response will help build back trust within the community.

Click here to view a MYNBC5 story on the situation —

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

The Peru Central School District is officially seeking candidates to fill two (2) at-large seats on the Board of Education. These vacancies result from the upcoming term expiration of Mr. Mark Hamilton and the resignation of Ms. Sarah Mitchell, which is currently filled by Mr. Steven Peters.

District residents interested in serving the community are invited to run for the following positions:

• A three-year term beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2029.

• A two-year term to complete a vacated seat, beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2028.

The elected candidate who receives the most votes will be granted the three-year term.

The Petition for Nomination of Candidate form is available in the District Office at 17 School Street on Mondays through Fridays, except on school holidays, or via BoardDocs on the District’s website. Petitions must be directed to the School District Clerk, shall be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District, and shall state the names and residences of the candidate and petition signers. The candidate’s phone number shall also be stated.

The qualifications that must be met to run for the school board are:

• A U.S. citizen

• At least 18 years old

• A qualified voter in the District

• Able to read and write

• A resident of the District continuously for one year before the election

• Cannot be employed by the Board

• Cannot live in the same household as a family member who is also a member of the Board

Petitions must be returned no later than 5:00 PM on Monday, April 20, 2026.

The School Board Election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Ogdensburg and Moriah added to a long list of previous winners 

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Events across the Adirondacks this week include concerts, snowshoeing, art exhibit openings and other activities

Click here for the Almanac Almanac story 

Click here for the Adirondack Almanac story 

Click here for the MYNBC5 story 

Owner of Norma J’s Cafe faces prison time for allegedly defrauding an elderly man for nearly five years

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

Click here for the NCPR story 

New York Focus read the governor’s, Senate’s, and Assembly’s budget proposals

Click here for the New York Focus story 

Seated, l-r: Kyle Lerch, Shiocton, Wis; Samantha Bowe, Mosinee, Wis; Carlos Fernando Gutierrez, Bryant, Wis and Ulises Garcia, Pine River, Wis. Standing, l-r: Jeronimo Flores Perez, Bryant, Wis; Jose Eduardo Hernandez Rodriguez, Bryant, Wis; Shane St. Cyr, Plattsburgh, NY; Kirstin Joyal, Williston, Vt.; Alyssa Berg, Kewaunee, Wis; Andrew Connon, West Grove, Pa; Kaitlyn Kesler, Hilbert, Wis; Ronna Wagner, Saint Johns, Mich.; Kristen Fischer, Prairie du Chien, Wis; Matthew Fischer, Owen, Wis; Jake Halbersma, Mosinee, Wis; Darian Scheer, Colby, Wis; and Joaquin Vazquez, Fond du Lac, Wis. Not pictured: Sarah Eck, Cambridge, Wis.

Graduates include Shane St. Cyr Adirondack Farms Partner 

March 11, 2026 – Madison Wisconsin – DAIRY NEWS – Upon successfully completing all three pillars of Cornerstone Dairy Academy, eighteen dairy farmers and industry professionals were honored as the program’s 2026 graduates at the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Business Conference at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., March 4.

Presented by the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP), the application-based leadership-development program is designed to enhance the skills of communication, visionary thinking, ethical and servant-oriented leadership, and professional etiquette. The program also equips attendees with tools to work through workplace challenges caused by generational differences and diversities in emotional intelligence.

“Cornerstone Dairy Academy graduates represent the best of the best in our dairy industry with a commitment to developing their leadership skills to benefit their farms and dairy businesses and the entire industry,” said Amber Keel, PDP Program Coordinator. “Completing all three pillars of training provides a strong foundation of communications and servant leadership skills for dairy farmers and industry professionals at any stage of their career.”

Hailing from 5 states, the 2026 Cornerstone Dairy Academy graduates have completed the Influential, Visionary and Servant Leadership pillars. Graduates include:

• Alyssa Berg, Kewaunee, Wis.
• Samantha Bowe, Mosinee, Wis.
• Andrew Connon, West Grove, Pa
• Sarah Eck, Cambridge, Wis.
• Jose Eduardo Hernandez Rodriguez, Bryant, Wis.
• Matthew Fischer, Owen, Wis.
• Kristen Fischer, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
• Jeronimo Flores Perez, Bryant, Wis.
• Ulises Garcia, Pine River, Wis.
• Carlos (Fernando) Gutierrez, Bryant, Wis.
• Jake Halbersma, Mosinee, Wis.
• Kirstin Joyal, Williston, Vt.
• Kaitlyn Kesler, Hilbert, Wis.
• Kyle Lerch, Shiocton, Wis.
• Darian Scheer, Colby, Wis.
• Shane St. Cyr, Plattsburgh, NY (Far Left, Back Row of Photo)
• Joaquin Vazquez, Fond du Lac, Wis.
• Ronna Wagner, Saint Johns, Mich.

The PDP Cornerstone Dairy Academy is underwritten by Dairy’s Foundation. To learn more about leadership programs offered through PDP, visitwww.PDPW.org or contact them at 800-947-7379.

Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.