The Peru Gazette

Source: US sees 1 million new Covid cases in a single day for first time – syracuse.com

TOWN OF PERU

1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL of October and November minutes
5. OPEN FLOOR to public hearing
6. APPLICATIONS:

1. Z2021-060 Use Variance

Ryan Darby

Use Variance Warehouse/Distribution

258.-1-18

Rock Rd

2. Z2021-063 Area Variance

Jeff LaValley

Area Variance

281-2-2

89 Bear Swamp Road

7. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS:                                       

Chairman/Vice Chairman elections

8. CEO REPORT:
9. ADJOURNMENT

From the office of Assemblyman Billy Jones

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) joined members of local tourism agencies and business owners to urge New York to renew funding for the Beekmantown Gateway Center, the first rest stop for southbound travelers on Interstate 87 located between Exits 41 and 40. The Adirondack Regional Tourism Council was awarded a contract to manage the Beekmantown Gateway Center until March 2024, but funding for the facility was not included in the 2020 State Budget so the Information Center closed in April 2020. The Beekmantown Welcome Center continues to be vacant.

Opening in 1995, the Information Center welcomes travelers from Canada and provides general information to visitors to the region and provides free Wifi as well. Approximately 103,000 travelers visit the center every year and approximately 198,000 brochures are distributed from the Center from an average of 200 different businesses and organizations. Tourism organizations have learned to depend on the Beekmantown Gateway Center to inform visitors about the North Country’s tourist attractions and to encourage people driving through the region to stop and patronize local businesses. The State Budget previously included $196,000 in funding for the Beekmantown Gateway Center.

“The Beekmantown Gateway Center has welcomed visitors to New York for over 25 years and is the first stop many travelers from Canada make in New York,” said Assemblyman Billy Jones. “It’s unacceptable that the Center remains vacant due to funding cuts. The North Country has a vibrant tourism industry and it’s important that the State provides funding to keep this industry thriving. The first stop for visitors of our state needs to be welcoming and not a vacant building and it’s time that the State restores funding to the Beekmantown Gateway Center in the State Budget.”

“This is one of the state’s key visitor gateways,” said Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “Thousands of visitors a year, especially from Canada, stop for information on the Lake Champlain and Adirondack regions, maximizing the visitor experience and business in our region. While it was understandable to close the center during the height of the pandemic with border restrictions, it is now time to provide for its reopening by summer. As we hopefully resume major cross-border travel by then, it will be more important than ever to be welcoming and helpful. Indeed, while it’s important to fund reopening in the next budget, this is also the time to start planning for a new center like those built in recent years across the state, including in Queensbury and Clifton Park in support of northbound travel. Onward and upward!”

“The Beekmantown Welcome Center is not only the Gateway to the Adirondacks for our neighbors to the north but also allows the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council to execute and implement important tourism marketing initiatives to keep the region on an equal playing field with other tourism regions throughout the state,” said Kristy Kennedy of the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council.  “The welcome center welcomes a variety of visitors, including leisure travelers and group travelers, but it also is a popular resting area for our truckers and long haulers who are vital during this supply chain crisis.”

Plattsburgh, January 4, 2022. The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) will be offering expanded hours and additional dates for COVID-19 vaccination with additional staffing provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). 

These clinics are open to all residents 12 and over needing dose 1, 2 or 3 (due to being a moderately or severely immunocompromised individual). Boosters are available for those 16 and over with at least 6 months since their second dose of vaccine. Residents can take advantage of these additional appointments by visiting www.clintonhealth.org/covid19vaccine and registering for an available time slot. 

CCHD’s current COVID-19 vaccination schedule is as follows: 

 Thursday, January 6, 2022. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. 

 Thursday, January 13, 2022. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. 

 Thursday, January 20, 2022. 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. 

 Thursday, January 27, 2022. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. 

Clinics will be held in the Clinton Community College Gymnasium located at 158 Clinton Point Drive in Plattsburgh. 

All currently approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and reduce your risk of severe illness. Booster shots are now available for everyone ages 16 and older who completed their primary vaccination series at least 6 months prior. Though the FDA has authorized the use of boosters among those ages 12-15, NYS has not yet given final approval for these doses. Please check back frequently for more information. To learn more about COVID-19 vaccination, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines. 

Source: Just scraping by: Many families need, but don’t qualify for, help | Sun Community News ELIZABETHTOWN | Policymakers in the 20th century who were fighting poverty had emblematic imagery to work from, and that helped focus Americans’ attention on the problem

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Source: Unvaccinated patients account for most Warren County hospitalizations, deaths | NCPR News

Source: Vermont lawmakers say state’s long-standing nursing workforce shortage is at a crisis point – VTDigger

Source: NY panel wants to merge districts of GOP Reps. John Katko, Claudia Tenney – syracuse.com

Source: Manhattan DA will not bring charges over Cuomo nursing home scandal – syracuse.com

Also includes SUNY Plattsburgh – Source: NY to open new Covid testing sites at 10 SUNY campuses, including in CNY – syracuse.com

Source: A baby, a football player, a retired teacher: Meet the 32 people lost to homicides in Syracuse in 2021 – syracuse.com

Source: Best places to visit in 2022 list includes Upstate New York region – syracuse.com

Source: Clinton Co. records highest COVID-19 rates to date | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | Over the New Year’s weekend, Clinton County saw nearly 450 new cases of COVID-19- the largest recorded spike since the onset of the pandemic.

Source: Kathy Hochul will propose term limits for New York’s top elected offices

Steve Moore, owner of Condo Pharmacy, speaks at a press conference on the Pharmacy Rescue Package while Assemblyman Billy Jones and Leo “Skip” Maggy of Maggy Pharmacy look on.

From the office of Assemblyman Billy Jones

Last week, Governor Hochul signed A1396/S3762 and A5854/S3566 into law right as the deadline was approaching after vetoing A7598/S6603 earlier in the week. These three bills were referred to as the Pharmacy Rescue Package because they will regulate Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBMs) and will help keep independent pharmacies operating.

PBMs are the mediators between health insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies who negotiate the price of prescription drugs and how much insurance companies will reimburse pharmacies for medications. The difference between what the insurance companies pay and the pharmaceutical companies charge is pocketed by PBMs despite how many independent pharmacies lose money on these transactions. Additionally, there are PBMs that own pharmacy chains resulting in bigger reimbursements to these pharmacies and PBMs requiring Medicaid patients to use these pharmacies exclusively. These practices have caused many independent pharmacies to close.

“Governor Hochul signing parts of the Pharmacy Rescue Package is an important step forward toward the State regulating PBMs and leveling the playing field for independent pharmacies,” said Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay). “I want to thank Governor Hochul for supporting independent pharmacists who have been on the frontlines of the pandemic offering COVID-19 testing and vaccines for their communities.”

After the State Legislature passed the Pharmacy Rescue Package in 2021, Assemblyman Jones joined Steve Moore, owner of Condo Pharmacy, Leo “Skip” Maggy owner of Maggy Pharmacy, Dan Bosley owner of Cornerstone Pharmacy and Keeseville Pharmacy, and other local pharmacists in calling for the Governor to sign these bills. Many of these pharmacists joined the assemblyman for a press conference held at Condo Pharmacy when the bills were delivered to the Governor in December.  

“I would like to thank Governor Hochul for taking long overdue action to protect New Yorkers from pharmacy benefit managers,” said Steve Moore, owner of Condo Pharmacy and past president of the Pharmacy Society of the State of New York. “The bills that she signed last week will expand patient choice and stifle PBMs’ ability to raise drug prices, rip off taxpayers and destroy community pharmacies.  Along with everyone else here at Condo Pharmacy, I am incredibly grateful for the support that Assemblyman Jones has provided for these bills during the years that it took to see the legislation passed.  Billy has been a steadfast champion of patients, taxpayers, and pharmacies throughout his time in office and the district is lucky to have him representing us in Albany.”      Read more »

Source: FDA approves Pfizer booster shot for children ages 12-15

POTSDAM, NY (01/03/2022)– The State University of New York at Potsdam recently named 887 students to the President’s List, in recognition of their academic excellence in the Fall 2021 semester.

To achieve the honor of being on the President’s List, each student must have satisfactorily completed 12 numerically-graded semester hours, with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

• Evan Howe of Peru, NY, whose major is Criminal Justice Studies

• Hannah Kanaly of Peru, NY, whose major is English Literature

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges — and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit http://www.potsdam.edu.

POTSDAM, NY (01/03/2022)– The State University of New York at Potsdam recently named 235 students who excelled academically in the Fall 2021 semester to the College’s Dean’s List.

To achieve the honor of being on the Dean’s List, each student must have satisfactorily completed 12 numerically-graded semester hours, with a grade point average of between 3.25 and 3.49 in the given semester.

The students included:

• Hayden Dustin of Peru, NY, whose major is Music

• Avery Tromblee of Peru, NY, whose major is Theatre

• Madison Tromblee of Peru, NY, whose major is Childhood/Early Childhood Education

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges — and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit http://www.potsdam.edu.

Source: South Hero pizzeria lets customers pay what they can — or nothing at all – VTDigger

Source: Harrietstown opts out under the wire | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Cannabis can still be sold in the village