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Kirsten O’Jida Blair (L) with her wife Crystal, and their children Liah, 10; Jazlynn, 6; and Olivia, 4.
Peru – Thanks to a letter to Santa from 10-year-old Liah O’Jida Blair, her mom’s reaction, and many peoples’ generosity, hundreds of local children will enjoy a more joyful Christmas. The young Peru girl wrote to Santa asking him to bring presents to kids whose families can’t get them gifts. Leah’s mom Kirsten Ojida-Blair couldn’t help but try to fulfill her child’s wish, so she decided to ‘fill the truck’ with gifts for local foster children. O’Jida Blair is familiar with the situations many foster children face. Before adopting them, she and her wife Crystal fostered two of their daughters Jazlynn, 6. and Olivia, 4, through the Clinton County Department of Social Services (DDS).
When word of Kirsten’s goal got out through friends and social media, her co-workers, friends, family, and the community responded in a big way. Yesterday, several DDS staff members gasped when Kirsten opened the doors of a U-Haul trailer, revealing hundreds of gifts. It took several volunteers almost 30 minutes to bring them all inside. Over the next few days, DDS staff members will sort the gifts and deliver them to the children they serve throughout the county.
Peru – Plans for a solar farm on the Moffat property at 3831 Route 22 are moving forward. The Peru Planning Board gave its conditional stamp of approval at its December 8th Zoom meeting. The Board declared that the project would not have a negative environmental impact according to the terms of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR).
Along with complying with its submitted plans, the developer David Byrne, President of RENUA Energy, must comply with two Peru Solar Law provisions prior to a building permit being issued – the decommissioning bond amount and the nature of a required public benefit contribution.
Peru’s Zoning Law requires a decommissioning bond sufficient to remove the solar system and any ancillary structures, plus repair any property damage. It also requires a 2% annual inflation escalator clause over a 30-year minimum. David Byrne said decommissioning costs are usually determined near the end of construction. However, after this meeting, Code Enforcement Officer told the Peru gazette that Planning Board would determine the bond amount before granting final project approval. In fact, Byrne submitted a decommissioning plan and suggested a bond amount of $175,000 on Friday. December 10th.
The Zoning Law also requires that Tier 3 solar developers make a public benefit contribution in the amount of 1% of the project’s total value. Byrne told the Board that he estimates that the project will cost about $8 million depending on several factors, including supply-chain issues. The law suggests such benefits as an electric vehicle charging station, sidewalks, purchasing ecologically significant land, bus shelters and bike racks, public park improvements, LED street lights, and urban tree planting/greenery. Byrne said he would work with the assessor on determining the fair market value and that his company has previously installed charging stations.
– CCHD offers free COVID-19 vaccine clinics every Thursday. Visit www.clintonhealth.org/covid19vaccine to schedule a first, second, third, or booster. Check back frequently, as additional appointment and dates may be added.
– Local Vaccination data: https://public.tableau.com/…/viz/Covid-Draft/Dashboard. According to the North Country COVID Vaccine Dashboard 117,609 total doses of COVID-19 Vaccine were given in Clinton County as of 11/28. As of 11/28, 69% of all Clinton County residents had at least one dose of the vaccine and 65% of residents had completed their vaccine series. 77% of residents 18 years and older have received at least one dose.
Sharing love is on many people’s minds at this time of year. Have you ever considered being a foster parent? It’s one of society’s best ways of sharing love.
The Clinton County Department of Social Services is hosting an informational meeting on Tuesday, January 11th. All are welcome and there is no commitment. It will be held at 13 Durkee Street from 6 p.m. to 7:30 pm. Please call 518-565-3320 to confirm attendance or to ask questions. Attendance must be confirmed.
After last night’s heavy rain and wind, it’s surprising that the sounds of chain saws are being heard almost everywhere today in Peru. Joanne Kennedy was kind enough to share photos of one uprooted tree on her property and several downed trees on the Peru walking trail
Dick’s Sporting Goods in The Champlain Center Mall was honored to host a Meet and Greet for the New York State Championship Girls Soccer team from AuSable Valley High School on Saturday, December 11th. Several players from the winning team were on hand signing autographs, handing out giveaways and talking to young athletes about their accomplishments. “We were very excited to host this event and recognize these young ladies for all their hard work this season,” said Greg Mills, Store Manager of Dick’s Sporting Goods. “Bringing the State Championship to a school in the North Country is a great honor and we wanted to do something to thank the players, coaches and the AuSable Valley School district.”
Information from the North Country Chamber of Commerce
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that masks will be required to be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement.
As is often the case with gubernatorial mandates during the COVID pandemic, supporting documentation and guidance follows some time after the initial announcement.
In regard to Governor Hochul’s mask mandate announced yesterday, the New York State Department of Health has made available two resources to help businesses comply with the new requirement. You can find those below.
This measure is effective Dec. 13, 2021 until Jan. 15, 2022, after which the State will re-evaluate based on current conditions.
What exactly are the requirements?
Any person, past their second birthday and medically able to tolerate a face covering, must wear an appropriate mask while in any indoor place, regardless of vaccination status. However, businesses and venues can choose to implement a vaccination requirement, requiring proof of vaccination as a condition of entry inside the business or venue. Whichever requirement is selected, it must apply to all within the business/venue’s capacity, including staff, patrons, visitors, and guests. A business and venue cannot do a “combination” requirement.
Business/Venue Proof of Vaccination Requirement
Businesses and venues that implement a proof of vaccination requirement must ensure that anyone 12 years of age or older is fully vaccinated before entering indoors.Businesses/venues can accept Excelsior Pass, Excelsior Pass Plus, SMART Health Cards issued outside of New York State, full-course vaccination through NYC COVID Safe app, a CDC Vaccination Card, or other official immunization record.
Business/Venue Mask-Wearing Requirement
Businesses and venues that implement a mask requirement must ensure all patrons past their second birthday and medically able to tolerate a face covering wear a mask at all times while indoors outside of physical eating or drinking.
Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) announced that a bill he authored to help stop the spread of invasive aquatic species in the Adirondacks was signed by Governor Hochul today.
“I am proud to have authored this bill that will help combat aquatic invasive species in the Adirondack region and I want to thank Governor Hochul for signing this bill today. Invasive aquatic species present a serious threat to both our environment and our economy. These pests carry harmful diseases which can infect native plants and animals and damage local ecosystems. Once these species spread, attempting to contain them can be extremely expensive and time-consuming. This bill will prevent spread before it starts by instituting regular inspections and by educating boaters, which will not only save time and money but also better safeguard our environment as well as protect land values for property owners.”
The measure extends the 2014 aquatic invasive species measures that recently expired and builds upon the law which will authorize the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to establish several inspection stations across the Adirondack Park as a precautionary measure against the propagation of invasive species. The stations authorized by the bill can be set up at any location in the Adirondack Park and within a ten-mile radius of its border, and would provide certifications for inspection and decontamination in addition to providing direct education and outreach to boaters, which will help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species.
