The Peru Gazette

Peru, NY, May 25, 2025 –  On or about Saturday, May 3, vandals defaced the Sullivan Park entrance sign, damaged a Sullivan Park picnic table and bench, and severely damaged metal signs at Little Ausable River Park. On Monday, May 6, at the Town Board meeting, the Town Supervisor Craig Randall said the repair cost to the Sullivan Park sign is 3,000.  A Peru-based company, Artisan Sign and Design, donated the sign to the town in June 2021.

Today, Supervisor Randall said the incidents are still under investigation. Camera footage at Little Ausable River Park may be key in identifying the perpetrators. Randall has indicated the town will press charges.

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Peru, NY, May 20, 2025 – 340 bee hives from Forrence and Sullivan Orchards departed Peru today for home in Rome, NY. Forrence Orchard trees were fully blossomed when temperatures were in the high seventies and low eighties making it for ideal pollination conditions. Seth Forrence said, “It was a beautiful bloom, short and sweet, the best ever!”

Peru, NY, May 20, 2025 – The Little Ausable River Park is closed while new mulch is being installed Parks Superintendent Courtney Tetreault said he hopes to reopen the park by Friday. 

Click here for the CNN story 

Andrew Woodruff

and 

Ithaca College Friends 

Present

“A SENIORS RECITAL”

Thursday, June 5, 2025

6:30pm

Saranac United Methodist Church 

Free Admission

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

Three ceremonies held Saturday as 1K graduated from Plattsburgh and Queensbury campuses 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

• Estimated Nearly $13.5 Billion Loss Annually For New Yorkers and Our Healthcare Economy
• Nearly 1.5 Million New Yorkers Could Lose Essential Plan or Medicaid Coverage And Become Uninsured
• Governor Hochul Demands Republican Members of Congress Oppose These Cuts and Protect Their Constituents
• Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the harmful effects of several healthcare provisions already passed from the House Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce committees for the Republican budget reconciliation bill. These provisions collectively amount to an annual loss of nearly $13.5 billion for New Yorkers and our healthcare sector, jeopardizing healthcare access for millions of New Yorkers while imperiling the state’s hospitals and other healthcare providers.

“House Republicans are unrelenting in their pursuit to slash critical safety net programs like Medicaid that millions of New Yorkers rely on,” Governor Hochul said. “I’ll say it again, no one State can backfill these massive cuts – our Republican congressional members must speak out and push back to protect New Yorkers, now.”

The provisions as currently written will lead to substantial changes in how the critical public insurance programs Medicaid and the Essential Plan are funded and administered across the state. According to the text of the bill language as passed by Ways & Means, more than half (50%) of Essential Plan funding — more than $7.5 billion — would be slashed, threatening the future of the program, and causing hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to lose coverage. That same Ways & Means text would shift almost $3 billion of costs to the State, and result in billions of dollars in cuts to the State’s healthcare providers

In addition to the devastating financial losses to the Essential Plan, the text of the bill language as passed by Energy & Commerce requires states to impose stricter work reporting requirements and onerous verification processes for Medicaid, both of which will significantly increase the administrative burden of the program, thus making coverage more difficult to access. All told, the Republican bill would cause nearly 1.5 million New Yorkers to lose coverage and become uninsured. The Republican bill would also eliminate critical funding mechanisms long used to support our healthcare providers, place enormous strain on the health care system and trigger widespread impacts across local economies. The state anticipates an additional fiscal impact of more than $3 billion due to the Energy & Commerce language, including approximately $500 million in new administrative costs alone.

A congressional district-by-district breakdown on anticipated funding losses is available here.

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “The proposed changes to federal health care funding would have serious consequences for New York State. Losing coverage for nearly 1.5 million New Yorkers would lead to significantly worse health outcomes for New Yorkers and would put immense strain on our health care system. We remain committed to working with all levels of government to protect access to quality, affordable care for all New Yorkers.”

Click here for the NCPR story 

Homemade Ground Beef Meatloaf with Ketchup and Spices
** Note: Shallow depth of field

Meatloaf 

Potatoes

Vegetable 

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!

Steven “Steve” Bacon – US Air Force 1972-1999 Vietnam, Cold War

One year out of high school, and after numerous jobs, Steve was looking for career stability.  He would enter the Burlington recruiter’s office, seeking a unique experience away from being a farm kid from Vermont.  The Army recruiter wasn’t there that day, so Steve would join the Air Force after talking to their recruiter.  This would take him to Lackland AFB for basic training, followed by Castle AFB for 5 months of training as a Boom Operator.

After AIT, Steven would have a brief assignment at Westover AFB for 4 months before receiving a 3-year assignment at Plattsburgh AFB.  Having an excellent and encouraging mentor, Steve would go back to California as an instructor.

Steve’s 27 years of military service would lead him to a position as Aircraft Standardization and Flight Examiner, and In-flight Refueling Chief Enlisted Manager.  His specialty would take him through a year of foreign service, an assignment to Offutt AFB, the Northeast SAC Headquarters, for their active status out of war plans, an 11-year return to Plattsburgh AFB, four years at Fairchild AFB, then finalizing his career at McGuire AFB.

His service would provide him with an abundance of training, strong mentors promoting and inspiring his service, a long list of commendations, as well as many close friends.  He is most grateful to his wife, Lynn, for her commitment and dedication.  His service is a partnership rooted in her support of 52 years.

Donald “Don” Berkman – US Army 1968-1970 Vietnam

Don would be drafted into the US Army at age 19, leaving behind a job at Alcoa.  A number of his friends would be called into service with him.  He would report to basic training at Fort Dix, then receive 6-months AIT training at Fort Belvoir for an MOS as a Power Generator Equipment Operator.

After AIT, Don would receive his orders for Vietnam.  He would arrive at Cam Ranh Bay by Chinook.  On a deuce ½ Army truck with a big tent, that is where he would stay.

As his first task, Don would be given two small generators and told to wire them. Within 3 to 4 months, he had moved up to above-ground wiring of 15 KW to 50 KW generators. While on guard duty, he would be needed as generator power would shut down.  After that, he would not be assigned guard duty, but would be on call for 24 hours.

On only one occasion, Don would get the assignment of “Poop Duty.”  This duty involved the removal of poop-filled drums from the makeshift outhouse, stirring in diesel fuel, and setting them on fire. This was not a duty that anyone wanted to be assigned.

At Phu Bai, within 3 miles of the DMZ, Don would run for generator fuel.  Held in tent posts, these fuel posts would continually move so they could avoid being bombed.

Don values his military experience, and sees the importance of service to this country by its citizens.  He is making this trip today with his son-in-law, Jeff, a Marine Corps veteran.

Gary Breyette – US Navy 1971-1975 Vietnam

Gary’s father and brothers all served in various branches of the military. Receiving a low draft number, Gary enlists in the Navy.  This choice allowed him to see the world from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

He would head out to basic training and AIT at Great Lakes Naval Base, spending 13 weeks in AIT as an Operational Specialist. With a home base in Mayport, Gary’s first two years would be assigned to the destroyer USS Lawe DD-763.  While aboard the ship, they would provide gunfire and aircraft support off the coast of Vietnam.

Gary would also serve aboard the ammunition ship USS Suribachi.  Here too he would find his ship off the coast of Vietnam providing arms and refueling to the combat units.  He would travel to world ports, including Taiwan, Subic Bay in the Philippines, and Japan.  While on leave in Taiwan, he would become lost, and his cab driver didn’t know where his ship was.  Gary would finally return late to the ship.  Glad to be back and facing disciplinary action, he was not quite as amused as his deck mates, who found great humor in his late return.

During his service, Gary missed the privacy of civilian life, but had tremendous appreciation for the mail call letters he received from home.

Click below to continue. 

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Michael “Mike” Ashline – US Air Force 1972-1988 Vietnam Era

After signing up for the Air Force, Michael, together with his friend Tom, would arrive in San Antonio for basic training.  Parting ways after basic, Michael would head to Lowry AFB to receive training as a Material Inventory Management Specialist. While completing his technical training, Michael would get married. 

Newly married, his first assignment would send him for 4 years to North Truro AFB, which he describes as a small base in the middle of nowhere.  From there he would spend his next 7 years at Loring AFB, with a new specialty assignment as Open Mess Management Supervisor.  Michael would exit the military at the end of his time at Loring AFB.  Deciding to re-enlist he would spend 5 cold years at Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota.  

Moving from the cold, Michael would head south, joining the Texas Air National Guard at Fort Bliss as a Security Specialist.  Here, in his final 3 years he would get to set up foxholes, conduct Air Guard desert training, and taught Claymore mine classes.  

Edmund “Ed” Baker

US Army 1966-1968 Vietnam

Ed’s life would find direction from his guardian uncles after the passing of his parents at the age of six.  Although his Dad served in the Navy, his uncles were Army men, serving in WWII and Korea.  He would follow their path into the US Army.

Ed completed Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He achieved Expert with M-14 rifle and was Pugil stick champion of his company.  In AIT, he competed in Boxing. With an 11Bravo MOS, Infantryman, he received his orders for combat operations in Vietnam with the 1st Division.

He remembers many close calls, but two stand out. The most vivid was an ambush. He was riding in the open rear of a deuce and a half truck. The driver was hit, and the truck stopped and began backing down a hill. Lying flat, face up, he saw tracers zip right by his nose and heard the clink of metal all around him. When the enemy stopped to reload, he jumped off the truck, returning fire. The men with him, new recruits, started firing back and the enemy disengaged.

Another time, when pulling point, Ed’s squad was radioed back to check their weapons.  When he test fired his M16, it fired one round and jammed. The company that went out instead of his was hit hard and took many casualties.

During the TET offensive of 1968 he remembers frequently sitting in bunkers listening to exploding mortars and rockets. With less than a month left in Vietnam, he wondered who among his fellow soldiers would make it home.

Ed finished his enlistment at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, NY. There he was met with anti-war demonstrations. On a visit to Plattsburgh, he was greeted with a slap in the face from a girl he knew. In contrast, his service was recognized when he was honored by the Massapequa VFW. They asked him to carry the colors in a 4th of July parade. This exemplified how divided Americans felt about the war in 1968.

Gerald “Jerry” Bates – US Army 1954-1956 Cold War

Volunteering for the US Army, Gerald would report to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, followed by Fort Bliss for AIT.  Preparing for a rigid inspection by the Top Sergeant, Gerald would find that he had run out of Army shorts.  The PX didn’t have any, so he would resort to drawing on what he hoped would have the appearance of snaps, which of course didn’t work. He would be sent out for sign painting duty.

Expecting to be shipped overseas after training, the Army would instead send him to New Jersey to be part of the crew to close down the base.  While there, they would be called to give blood to a crew hit by an artillery round.

Assigned to Frankfurt, Germany, Gerald’s crew would be the first common crew of enlisted to be airlifted to this destination. As part of the 4th infantry division, Gerald was assigned to drive recon by the Captain.  Gerald would ask “What if I don’t want this assignment.”  The Captain told him “they could find something else for him.” Gerald thought it was best to do as the Captain asked, knowing a new assignment would not be to his liking.

While on a joint military exercise in the mountains, his platoon sergeant witnessed aggressors looking to withdraw. His vehicle would not start.  He had to stay alone until they could arrange to get him down the mountain. He had a machine gun, and they told him to fire off rounds if he had a problem.  It would be an interesting journey being towed down the mountain, snapping the rope twice, running on narrow roads between 30 to 40 miles per hour.

While in East Germany, Gerald witnessed a tangible resentment by the East Germans and their struggle to be occupied by Russia. Click “Read More” to continue. 

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The Carpenter Flats Bridge on Route 9 will be formally renamed in his honor

Click here for the Sun Community News story 

Peru Dock, U.S. Route 9 – May 17, 2025 –  At 6:30 this morning, the weather was perfect for fishing on Lake Champlain. This gentleman, accompanied by his son, drove six 6-hours from Long Island to fish in Lake Champlain. The dad is a 1998 Environmental Science, SUNY Plattsburgh grad who appreciates all the North County offers, especially its great fishing. They’ll be camping and fishing here all weekend and visit one of the dad’s SUNY Plattsburgh classmates.  The Gazette hopes they have a wonderful time.

Note: Your reporter recorded both their names; unfortunately, my recorder did not activate.

Following years of planning and fundraising, Waterfront Park readies to open

Click here for the Sun Community News story