The Peru Gazette

Billy Jones Press Release 4/10/25 – It has been one month since over 2,000 correction officers were terminated, and I have been working diligently to get the officers who want to return to work back into their respective facilities.

Today, the officers in these facilities are faced with almost daily 12 hour or longer shifts, critical staffing shortages, and continued dangerous working conditions.

The fastest and simplest solution for the State to prevent the brewing safety crisis from getting out of control is to rehire the correction officers who are willing to return to work. Prioritizing those who were let go while on FMLA, sick leave, or other approved time off is critical to bring staff back to these facilities quickly.

Restaffing the facilities also allows civilian workers – who are currently placed in positions that they are often not equipped for – to return to their normal positions and minimize the risks that come with low staff levels. Our civilian workers should not be paying the price for the inadequate staffing levels that the state can quickly resolve. This will also help resume normal programming and other functions within the facilities.

The National Guard members that have been sent to staff facilities were a necessary temporary solution, but it is time for the state to return trained correction officers to their positions to lessen the burden on our state resources. The cost of keeping these members stationed in facilities they are not trained for is far higher than simply returning former corrections officers to their jobs.

On top of the staffing issues, implementing safety measures that ensure all staff can go to work and know that they will return home safe is essential. We have seen far too many instances of dangerous substances getting into facilities and hospitalizing workers. It is beyond time for the state to agree that body and mail scanners are necessary for entry into our correctional facilities.

I have heard repeatedly from current corrections officers that this is an untenable situation. Many officers are already becoming burnt out from overexertion in poor working conditions, and it will only continue to go downhill if something is not done quickly.

It is time for the Governor and DOCCS to see the scale of this issue and act quickly to implement these solutions.

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By John T Ryan

April 8, 2025, Peru, NY—On Tuesday afternoon, the Peru Town Board awarded K & L Plumbing and Heating of Plattsburgh a $1,156,000 contract for the mechanical components (heating and air conditioning) of the wastewater treatment plant project. The general, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical contracting bids amount to $17,450,000, excluding design, engineering, and contingency costs.

Town Supervisor Craig Randall stated that he anticipates securing an approximate $8 million loan at 0% interest over 30 years once grant money is received.

Randall mentioned requesting an updated total cost estimate from C&S Engineering. This will help him assess the project’s financial impact on the district’s 565  users. Additionally, water users may incur some of the costs, as the plant upgrade includes offices and garages necessary for water services.

The following contractors submitted the lowest bids in their respective categories: 

• General Contractor: Murnane Building Contractors – $9,304,000 
• Plumbing Contractor: John W. Danforth – $5,648,000 
• Electrical Contractor: Triangle Electrical Systems – $1,342,800 Mechanical Contractor
• K & L Plumbing and Heating – $1,156,000 
• New York State awarded Peru $11,087,515 in grants, covering at least 50% of project costs. The town will finance the remaining cost through a 30-year no-interest loan. 

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CVPH CEO Eappen, MD, said, “Our health system has recruited 90 physicians and 57 advanced practice providers, with a scheduled start date this fiscal year.”

PLATTSBURGH, NY (04/10/2025) — Improving access to quality health care close to home by recruiting and supporting the region’s health care workforce was the primary focus of a Community Forum sponsored by the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH). Nearly 150 people attended the event hosted by Alice Hyde Medical Center and CVPH President Michelle LeBeau and held Monday, March 31, in the Butcher Block Adirondack Room.

In his opening comments, University of Vermont Health Network President and CEO Sunny Eappen, MD affirmed that the health system remains committed to providing the best possible care possible to the communities it serves in northern New York and Vermont.  “The way we’ll do that is by integrating in every way possible. This is about more than just working together across departments, hospitals, and state lines – though that’s a big part of it. Success will require a change in mindset. So that every patient across the UVM Health Network is our patient and every challenge is our challenge – and every opportunity is our opportunity.”  

Using workforce development as an example of that integration, he said, “There’s a nationwide shortage of just about every kind of health care worker you can think of, but we’re working together to keep our frontline workforce strong.”

The health system’s Center for Workforce Development coordinates efforts to train community members and members of the current workforce for key, in-demand and difficult to recruit positions including licensed practical nurses (LPN), registered nurses (RN), respiratory therapists (RT), surgical technicians and medical lab technicians.

Dr. Eappen continued, “We’ve also taken a focused, collaborative approach to recruit more providers and staff. We’re making progress, and I’ll use provider recruitment as an example:  Our health system has recruited 90 physicians and 57 advanced practice providers, with a scheduled start date this fiscal year. That’s already a 26% increase in hiring over last year. There are a lot of factors that go into this, but one of the key things is having recruiters who specialize in specific, system-wide clinical departments. They focus on recruiting providers for those departments across northern New York and Vermont.”

A lively and robust question-and-answer session followed Dr. Eappen’s remarks, covering a wide range of topics, including the impact the health system has had on health care in the North Country, challenges in the recruitment and retention of physicians, and access to services in Plattsburgh.

CVPH Chief Medical Officer Lisa Mark, MD and Vice President of Medical Group Network Practices Amy Putnam offered a detailed update on physician recruitment, welcoming six new providers to northern New York and discussing additional providers scheduled to begin practice in next few months.  New to the North Country and accepting patients are Amr Essa, MD and Amine Nasri, MD of CVPH Cardiology, Joseph Pierson, MD and Casey Barcomb, PA of CVPH Dermatology, Barbara Crotty, AuD, of CVPH ENT and Anusha Devarajan, MD of CVPH Pulmonary.

Dr. Mark said the warm welcome extended to new providers by the medical staff and the entire community has been instrumental in these successful recruitment efforts. “We’ve also been able to be creative to meet their specific needs and interests. So, for example, if they are interested in academics or seeing patients in Malone, we’ve worked to accommodate that.”

Sharing that 60% of the CVPH Family Medicine Residency graduates have opted to stay in the region to practice medicine, Residency Faculty Maegan Cabrera, MD detailed the factors that contribute to that success. “This community has welcomed our residents with open arms and our physicians are committed to providing a great learning experience for our residents.”  Many of the residents also have an expressed interest in practice in rural communities.

Director of Nursing Excellence and Program Development Stephanie Drown and Emergency Department APP Manager Maurice Paquette, PA discussed the success of CVPH’s registered nurse and advanced practice provider Transition of Practice programs. “I am proud to share that we offer our newly graduated registered nurses an accredited residency program. We have been accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center since 2018, becoming the 59th accredited program in the country and only the second in New York State above New York City,” said Drown. The residency includes clinical and unit specific orientations, professional development opportunities and partnership with an experienced RN who serves as a preceptor. “Our goal is to support graduate nurses as they transition from school to bedside practice,” she explained.

Advanced practice providers (APPs) are receiving similar support in the CVPH Emergency Department (ED) according to Paquette who spearheads the program designed specifically for physician assistants and nurse practitioners. “We offer the support they need to be successful here including proctoring and didactic sessions and dedicated time in our simulation lab.”  He explained the ED is already seeing positive results and pointed to a nearly full complement of APPs staffing the department. “They are joining us and staying.”  The ED APP Transition of Practice Program will seek national accreditation in the spring of 2026.

April 9, 2025 – Launched During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the “Meals with Meaning: Veteran Feeding Veteran” Program Expands Access to Fresh, Healthy Meals Through Public-Private Collaboration

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the “Meals with Meaning: Veteran Feeding Veteran” program, launched in response to food insecurity heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, has reached a major milestone, successfully distributing two million meals to New York’s Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families. The innovative program, led by HelloFresh, collaborates with the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, New York City Department of Veterans’ Services and Pratt Industries.

“New York State is grounded in a history of service — one that extends beyond the debt of gratitude we profess to our men and women in uniform and into the actions we take to support them and their loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “The Meals with Meaning program is living proof of our commitment to those who have served our country, delivering more than two million meals for those in need.”

This partnership of government, nonprofits and private industry has created a seamless program that benefits our Veterans and Military Families to ensure those who are food insecure will have healthy meals to share. Governor Hochul also announced that HelloFresh has generously committed to funding the program again throughout 2025, ensuring continued support for those who have served.

Earlier today, veteran volunteers packed 8,000 Meals with Meaning meal kits at The Campaign Against Hunger’s (TCAH) Brooklyn headquarters for Veterans, Service Members and Military Families who are facing food insecurity. Each kit contains proteins, fresh produce and ingredients supplied by HelloFresh to make eight nutritious meals at home. With the support of DVS, the kits are distributed directly to veterans and their families. 

First established in 2020, the Meals with Meaning initiative addresses food insecurity affecting Veterans and Military Families at twice the rate of the public. The program provided a vital lifeline to vulnerable Veterans who struggled with food access during the pandemic. The program continues to provide the needed help to ensure our veterans do not go hungry. The HelloFresh-led program serves Veterans and Military Families ranging from 20 to 90 years old. This public-private partnership remains a critical resource for New York’s Veteran community, ensuring access to nutritious meals while honoring their service and sacrifice.

New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana DeCohen said, “Two million meals provided means two million lives touched and transformed through this wonderful initiative. The incredible success of the Meals with Meaning program is a testament to the power of community and partnership, providing life-changing resources to those who have served selflessly, ensuring that they feel seen, supported, and valued. Together with HelloFresh and all program partners, we are making a tangible difference in combating food insecurity and honoring the dedication of our Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families. I commend and thank Governor Hochul, our good friends at HelloFresh, and all program partners and volunteers for their continued strong support of this program and for making a positive difference in the lives of countless New York Veterans.”

HelloFresh Senior Vice President of Procurement Jacob Krempel said, “We are honored to support veterans and military families—those who have selflessly served our country — but we know that there is still more to do in combating food insecurity and ensuring fresh food is accessible to everyone. A special thank you to our partners with New York State, NYC Division of Veterans’ Services, The Campaign Against Hunger, and Black Veterans in continuing to help make a meaningful impact in the community through our Meals with Meaning program.”

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(Plattsburgh, N.Y.) – Dannemora Federal Credit Union (DFCU) is excited to announce a $10,000 donation to the North Country Veterans Association, a local non-profit in the community.

Dannemora FCU President and CEO Chris Hay said, “We are extremely passionate about donating to the North Country Veterans Association, and it has been an honor to do so for the past 11 years. We feel fortunate and grateful that we can donate to their organization, which is dedicated to enhancing the lives of local veterans in our community.” 

Over the last 11 years, Dannemora FCU has donated $160,000 to the North Country Veterans Association. The donations profoundly strengthen the nonprofit organization’s services and support for local vets and their families. 

Dannemora FCU Business Development Manager, Anna Hewitt-Channell, said, “Commitment to our local veterans has always been at the heart of DFCU and something we are extremely proud of.”

The North Country Veterans Association has been operated by community veterans since 1983. 

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”

“But the biggest pots of federal funding are to support children with physical and learning disabilities and for rural and/or low-income schools. The North Country has a lot of those.” 

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L-R VONMA members Jim Brown, Kevin Burrell, Brian Ojida, Ken Gladd, Bryan Lincoln, Joseph Palmer, Terry Peters

L-R VONMA President Kevin Burrell, Bonnie Devan, Jimmy Devan, VONMA Sergent at Arms Jim Brown

By John T Ryan (Please share) 

Peru, NY, April 6, 2025—Last year, a small group of local veterans formed The Veterans of the North Motorcycle Association (VONMA), adopting the motto “Veterans 4 Veterans.” On Sunday morning, the Association’s President, Kevin Burrell, exemplified this motto by presenting a check for $14,244 to veteran Jimmy Devan. 

On February 27, a vehicle struck Devan while walking with his seeing-eye dog, Ryder, near his Route 22B home. Following the incident, Jimmy spent several days in intensive care at UVM Medical Center in Burlington and then underwent rehabilitation at the Fanny Allen Hospital in Colchester. He returned home on March 18, but it will take several weeks for him to resume his daily routines. On Sunday, Ryder rested in a nearby room, escaping the accident without injury. 

Devan lost his eyesight in Vietnam in 1968 while serving as a U.S. Marine when a booby-trap explosion left him completely blind and with a body filled with shrapnel. VONMA Sergeant at Arms Jim Brown reported that hundreds of people, locally and from across the country, generously donated personally and through a GoFundMe/PayPal campaign to raise the $14,244 gift. 

Over the past several months, the 21-member VONMA has assisted homeless veterans in finding temporary shelter, built handicapped ramps, widened doors, acquired ferry tickets for veterans traveling to Vermont for medical treatment, and helped a veteran whose home suffered severe fire damage. Jim Brown noted, “There are several people and organizations assisting veterans, but sometimes there’s a gap in getting help, filling out paperwork, and receiving approvals. Our goal is to provide immediate assistance to veterans and their families to fill that gap.”  VONMA strives to serve Clinton, Essex and Franklin County veterans. 

For more information on VONMA, call its president Kevin Burrell at 518-300-0910.