The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Peru – On Sunday, October 3, 2021, at 1 p.m. Green Acres Restaurant will be closing. Donna Rowley, who has successfully operated the business for the past eight and one-half years, needs a new chef and can’t find one. She explained, “My chef Paul Drake told me some time ago that he would be looking for a job with more benefits. So I started quietly looking for someone about three and one-half months ago. I reached out to people, then I called the employment agencies, but they couldn’t help. Anybody that owns a small business doesn’t have enough help. With all the extra Covid money, people aren’t going to work.  I can’t run the business the way I want by myself.”

Deciding to close wasn’t easy. Rowley knows her business is important, not only to her but to Peru. She stated, “I beat myself up about this decision. I went for a hike. I talked out loud to myself. I was afraid someone would hear me and say who is that crazy person. I had to soul search. I asked, ‘Donna, your business is really good right now. Do I try and do this myself and damage it? I’m going to damage the place. It’s going to consume me.'” 

Rowley opened her doors on April 27, 2013, taking over from Hanh and Sherry Chung, who operated Green Acres for sixteen years. Today, business is better than ever. On Sundays, Green Acres sometimes has a waiting list. People love the daily lunch specials and the many varieties of baked pies.  Rowley bakes on Monday, the one day of the week that the restaurant is closed.  Monday is also her day to do business paperwork and banking. Along with managing the business, routine tasks include cooking, waiting on tables, carpet shampooing, bathroom cleaning, window washing, and even plowing snow and mowing the lawn.  And then there are those beautiful seasonal decorations. 

What is she going to do next? Rowley said, “I haven’t decided yet. I have until the end of October. I’m still going to do some painting in the restaurant and repair the kitchen flooring, and I’m going to have a big sale to sell the things in the restaurant. After October, I will have to work. I love to work. My first job was at the Malone Dairy Queen when I was fourteen.” Rowley doesn’t own the building. A realtor erected a “For Sale” sign earlier this week. Rowley hopes the person who buys it will reopen the building as a restaurant. 

Speaking about her customers, Donna Rowley said, “I’m going to miss them. Some people have made me cry already. I have many of their phone numbers.  Some of us even go out to dinner occasionally. I remember their birthdays. Right now, it’s OK. Next week, don’t ask me.” 

Click here to view the 2013 Peru Gazette story on Rowley’s restaurant opening. 

“Governor Kathy Hochul this week announced the state will move ahead with a proposed major project to run hydropower from Quebec to New York City. The Champlain-Hudson Express transmission line would carry more than 12-hundred megawatts of hydropower from Quebec under Lake Champlain & the Hudson River to power more than a million homes in New York City. The state is offering, over 25 years, to buy billions of dollars-worth of electricity from Quebec. If approved, it will be the largest contract in Hydro-Quebec.”

Source: Governor Hochul Announces Major Hydropower Project Moving Forward – Mountain Lake PBS

Source: Officials: North Country child care services in crisis | News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Parents share stories of COVID schooling | News | pressrepublican.com

The Town of Peru Water & Sewer Department will be closing Maiden Lane from Woodland to Button Brook today Thursday, September 30th   from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm to install a sewer line.

There will be NO through traffic including Emergency vehicles during that time period.

“Much of the extra cash will probably be consumed by higher prices and rising Medicare premiums, according to The Motley Fool, a finance website.”

Source: Social Security cost-of-living hike coming, but might not matter for many – syracuse.com

“Breakthrough Covid-19 cases have occurred in about 1% of Onondaga County residents who were fully vaccinated against the virus.”

Source: Onondaga County reveals number of Covid breakthrough cases – syracuse.com

Source: Community rallies around Winooski soccer team after allegations of racist slurs

Source: Mary Bassett chosen to lead New York state’s health department

Source: Champlain Valley medical centers lose staff on first day of vaccine mandate | NCPR News

Source: 33 out at North Country hospitals over vaccine refusals | Coronavirus | pressrepublican.com

“ALBANY — The 64-campus State University of New York, the nation’s largest comprehensive public university system, has experienced an enrollment drop of nearly 20% over the past decade, a troubling trend that gained even more steam over the last year, new data shows.”

Source: SUNY system gears up major marketing blitz to draw students | News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Peru remains sharp to beat Beekmantown | Local Sports | pressrepublican.com

Source: Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for kids may not be available until November – syracuse.com

Source: Zac Brown Band cancels Syracuse concert; singer tests positive for Covid – syracuse.com

Source: North Country’s minimum wage to rise to $13.20 | NCPR News

Plattsburgh, September 28, 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved booster shots for eligible individuals who have received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) will begin offering COVID-19 boosters for eligible individuals Thursday, September 30, 2021. Residents who are eligible can register for a CCHD clinic regardless of where their first two doses were administered. 

“CCHD is pleased and prepared to begin this phase of the vaccination process,” stated Debra Tackett, Director of Health Care Services at CCHD. “Beginning Thursday, we will offer boosters to those eligible at our weekly clinics.” 

Individuals are eligible for a Pfizer booster vaccine dose if they received a 2-dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the second dose was at least six months ago, AND they meet one or more of the following criteria: 

 Age 65 years or older 

OR 

 A resident of a long-term care facility age 18 years or older 

OR 

 Ages 50 through 64 years with one or more of the underlying medical conditions: 

o Cancer (current or in remission, including 9/11-related cancers) 

o Chronic kidney disease 

o Pulmonary disease, including but not limited to, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate to severe), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and 9/11 related pulmonary diseases 

o Intellectual and developmental disabilities including Down syndrome 

o Heart conditions, including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, or hypertension (high blood pressure) 

o Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) including but not limited to solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, use of other immune weakening medicines, or other causes 

o Severe obesity (BMI 40 kg/m2), obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2) 

o Pregnancy 

o Sickle cell disease or thalassemia 

o Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus 

o Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain) 

o Neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia 

“Working Together for a Healthier Community” – 2 – 

o Liver disease 

OR 

 Individuals 18-49 years of age with one or more of the underlying medical conditions listed above, based on individual benefits and risks 

OR 

 Ages 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting based on individual benefits and risks. 

To register for a booster, please visit www.clintonhealth.org/covid19vaccine. 

CCHD continues to offer COVID-19 vaccine clinics each week for residents needing dose 1, dose 2, or dose 3 appointments. The CDC recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule a dose 1, dose 2, or dose 3 appointment call 518-565-4848. 

“Knocking on the door The hodgepodge of project locations so far approved in the park has given some local leaders pause. The state and federal push for more renewable energy has solar developers knocking on Adirondackers’ doors, but some are wondering if large solar projects belong in the park and, if so, where. Even stalwart environmentalists are unsure.”

Source: Solar Power struggle – Adirondack Explorer

Source: Hochul touts environmental, economic projects in the Adirondacks

Source: Climate change conference set for Oct. 21 | Local News | pressrepublican.com

“Over the weekend, in a lengthy statement, Winooski schools Superintendent Sean McMannon said three opponents from the visiting team, Enosburg Falls High School, as well as some spectators, used racially abusive slurs against Winooski players. Those included the N word, McMannon wrote.”

Source: Allegations of racist slurs, violence mar Vermont youth soccer game