The Peru Gazette

Source: Superintendent reveals his picks for new Burlington High School site

Peru – CVPH Donor Center Blood Brive, Monday, September 27th from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St. in Peru. 

Your neighbors need and appreciate your donation.

The blood drive is being coordinated and assisted by St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273. 

Source: Report: NYS threatens to cut funding or send people with disabilities to Tupper Lake facility | NCPR News

“Authorities said Craig Panton, 66, was riding his motorcycle on Route 11 when he attempted to turn onto Plank Road and was hit by a truck being driven by 41-year-old Patrick Borrette of Plattsburgh, who was trying to turn onto Route 11 from Plank Road.”

Source: Ellenburg motorcycle accident sends one to the hospital | Sun Community News ELLENBURG | A Plattsburgh man was taken to the hospital Sept. 11 after his motorcycle was hit in the intersection of Route 11 and Plank Road.

Source: Owners look to sell, realign Westport Golf | Sun Community News WESTPORT | Halls say they won’t open course next year

Source: Best colleges ranked: 7 Upstate NY schools make top 100 on U.S. News & World Report list – syracuse.com

Source: NYC begins enforcing proof of vaccine mandate in restaurants, theaters, gyms – syracuse.com

“Beneficiaries could see their payments rise by 6% to 6.1% in January, according to a recent estimate from the Senior Citizens League, an advocacy group for seniors. That would be the biggest cost-of-living hike since 1983, when a 7.4% increase took effect.”

Source: Social Security recipients still on track for biggest cost-of-living hike in years – syracuse.com

Source: New Arts Park Dedicated To Retired Senator Betty Little | WAMC

Source: Judge blocks NY from denying religious exemptions in health worker vaccine mandate – syracuse.com

“The Clinton County Office for the Aging has announced mini-grant opportunities to help bring renewed social connections for Clinton County senior citizens.”

Source: Mini-grants aimed at Clinton Co. senior social connections | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | The Clinton County Office for the Aging has announced mini-grant opportunities to help bring renewed social connections for Clinton County senior citizens. 

Source: Westport receives significant grant | Sun Community News WESTPORT | Community and homeowners are big winners.

Peru – September 14, 2021 –  It’s apple harvest time in Peru.  The hard-working Jamaican men picked early varieties such as Paula Reds first, and now they are concentrating on the beautiful Honeycrisp apples.  The Jamaican men were hard at work adjacent to the River Road early this afternoon. Asked if they liked the beautiful 71-degree day, the supervisor responded, “No, we like it a little cooler.” 

Orchardist Seth Forrence said he’d also like to see cooler weather, especially at night.  He commented, “We have a nice crop this year, but the Macs need cold nights to bring out the bright red colors.” Overnight temperatures in the ’40s would be good. Last spring’s constantly changing weather is also influencing this year’s crop. The hot then cold temperatures resulted in uneven pollination, hence the apples are maturing at varying times. As a result, the hard-working apple pickers will have to pick each tree twice or more. 

Source: Protests against healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccinations | NCPR News

Source: Yes, your employer can require a COVID-19 vaccine | NCPR News

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from across New York State.

Town of Speculator
Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 8 at 4:37 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call reporting a 24-year-old despondent man from New Jersey heading to the Siamese Pond Wilderness Area. Rangers Kerr and Thompson responded along with New York State Police (NYSP) and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Officers. The subject’s vehicle was located, and Rangers searched areas he was likely to be found, without success. The next morning a command post was established at the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and search efforts continued with a team of six Forest Rangers. At 12:21 p.m., Rangers located the man’s camp, but he wasn’t there. Two hours later, Rangers found the subject and carried him out of the woods. He was transported to a medical facility for evaluation. Resources were clear from the scene at 5:12 p.m.

Raquette Lake
Hamilton County
Wildland Fire: On Sept. 9 at 2:50 p.m., Hamilton County 911 received a report of a wildland fire in a tree at the end of Northpoint Road in Raquette Lake. Forest Ranger Sabo responded and located a large, white pine snag (any dead or dying standing tree) with approximately 30 feet burned around the base. Ranger Milano responded to assist with fire suppression. Rangers extinguished the fire, likely caused by a lightning strike, by 5:50 p.m. Ranger Milano checked the fire the next day and found some warmth around the roots, but no active smoke or fire. Using hand tools, the Ranger dug out the roots and put more water on the hot spots.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 10 at 4:52 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a radio call from the Johns Brook Lodge Caretaker reporting that a 45-year-old woman from Pennsylvania had fallen off a bridge near the outpost in the High Peaks Wilderness Area and required medical assistance. Assistant Forest Ranger McLenithan responded to the hiker’s location. Rangers Mecus and Lewis responded with Essex County Paramedics and Keene Valley Fire Department to assist the hiker out of the woods. By 7:30 p.m., the woman was out of the woods and transported by ambulance for further medical care.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 10 at 6:50 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call reporting a distressed hiker near MacIntyre Falls on the Algonquin Trail in the High Peaks Wilderness Area. The 27-year-old man from Brooklyn was unprepared for the weather and requested assistance. Lt. Burns spoke with the hiker by phone and determined he needed Ranger assistance to get out of the woods. The man was assisted by another hiker who volunteered to help him down the trail. Ranger O’Connor responded and met up with the distressed hiker and assisted him to his vehicle at the Adirondak Loj trailhead at 8:24 p.m.

Town of Watson
Lewis County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 11 at 12:52 p.m., Lewis County 911 received a report of a 40-year-old kayaker from Attica with a knee injury on the Beaver River near Eagle Falls. The kayaker injured his knee while walking along the shoreline and was unable to put weight on it. Lewis County notified Forest Ranger Evans who located a member of the kayaker’s group. Ranger Evans directed rescuers to the location. The kayaker was packaged into a litter for a half-mile carry out to the trailhead. Lewis County Deputy Sheriff, Lewis County Search and Rescue, Croghan Fire Department, and the kayaker’s group assisted with the carry out. The kayaker was transferred to an ambulance and transported to a local hospital for further treatment. All responders were clear at 2:25 p.m.

Kayaker rescued at Beaver River

Town of Johnsburg
Warren County
Wildland Rescue: On Sept. 11 at 1:35 p.m., Warren County 911 advised DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch of a 38-year-old hiker from Albany with an ankle injury on Crane Mountain in the Wilcox Lake State Forest. Forest Rangers Kerr, Perryman, Quinn, and Assistant Forest Ranger Haker responded, along with Johnsburg Fire and Rescue. Due to the remote location of the rescue, NYSP aviation was requested. The hiker was hoisted into the NYSP helicopter by Crew Chief Ranger Kerr, flown to a landing zone, and transferred to the Johnsburg Ambulance for transport to Glens Falls Hospital. Responders were clear of the scene at 6:40 p.m. Video link to the rescue on YouTube (leaves DEC website).

Ranger Quinn preparing the hiker for a hoist off the mountain

Hiker being hoisted up into NYSP helicopter

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 11 at 3 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch was called by a hiker reporting a 43-year-old woman from Morrisonville had injured her ankle on the trail to Street and Nye mountains in the Eastern High Peaks. Forest Ranger Evans responded and located the injured woman, who was being helped down the trail by four hikers. Six additional Rangers and two Assistant Forest Rangers hiked in with rescue equipment. The woman was carried out to the trailhead and given a courtesy ride to Lake Placid Hospital. All resources were clear at 7:40 p.m.

Rescuers and volunteers carry the hiker using a backpack carrier

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for more information.

If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether it’s for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on state lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911. To contact a Forest Ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website has phone numbers for every Ranger listed by region.

Source: Police: 3-year-old dies after falling from buggy in Moira

Source: Active North Country COVID cases top 400 | News | pressrepublican.com

Source: City looking at re-imagining Margaret Street | News | pressrepublican.com

Source: NBC5 In Depth: Addressing wait times for medical appointments at UVMMC

Developments at Federal Level Provide Opportunity to Improve Availability, Access and Affordability

The state has made progress in making high-speed connections available to New Yorkers, ranking second in the U.S. in the percentage of the population with broadband available in their neighborhood, but more than one million, or 13.8%, of households do not have access or a subscription to home broadband services, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“Reliable, high-speed internet is a necessity to effectively work, communicate and learn in our society and that was made crystal clear during the COVID-19 pandemic when millions of New Yorkers turned their homes into schools and workplaces,” said DiNapoli. “The state has taken significant steps to make broadband available to most New Yorkers, but there is still a digital divide in rural parts of New York and for low-income New Yorkers who don’t have access or are unable to afford a home subscription. High-speed connections are an imperative for economic development and equal opportunity.”

DiNapoli’s analysis finds many predominantly rural areas remain underserved by broadband infrastructure. In addition, approximately 1 in 3 New York households with income less than $20,000 lacked access to broadband at home. As of 2019, the greatest share of households lacking access was in New York City.

Only a limited number of households had higher-speed subscriptions that were essential during the pandemic, as stay-at-home orders led to sharply increased amounts of data transmitted simultaneously. While 86.2% of New York households had access to broadband at speeds of at least 25/3 megabits per second (Mbps), only 13.5% of those had home broadband subscriptions at faster speeds of at least 250/25 Mbps in 2019.

Some households upgraded their subscriptions to accommodate increased demands within their homes during the pandemic; however, other New Yorkers may not have had that option due to a lack of availability of higher-speed connections or affordability concerns. While the pandemic highlighted these disparities, enhancing broadband is important not only for equity but also for long-term economic competitiveness.

DiNapoli urged the state to craft a detailed strategy that can leverage federal funding provided under the American Rescue Plan and new funds that may be provided under the infrastructure bill currently before Congress. He said the plan should:

• Accelerate universal availability of the highest speed connections, including in rural areas where there are currently no providers or only one option for service. The state should look to the future and plan for the deployment of gigabyte (1000 Mbps) connections. This will require both upgrades to current infrastructure systems, as well as deployment of new technology;
• Enhance access for low-income households. Solutions should focus on both residential properties and community institutions, including schools, libraries and parks; and
• Improve affordability, particularly for low-income residents. 326,000 households in New York have already benefited from the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which currently provides a $50 per-month subscription subsidy and a one-time discount on a computing device. State leaders should advocate for it to be extended or made permanent during the ongoing federal infrastructure negotiations.

Broadband Availability
New York has done well in deploying broadband infrastructure at the standard speed of 25/3 Mbps. In 2019, the state ranked second in the country with 98.7% of the population in areas with broadband compared to a national average of 95.6%, according to the FCC. At least one provider offering high-speed broadband of at least 250/25 Mbps speeds was available to 98.3% of New York’s population; however, provider competition is lacking, which may make consumer costs higher.

The report noted that the FCC considers an area “served” if a service provider reports that it has made broadband infrastructure available to a particular census block, even if service is not necessarily available to every location on that block. As a result, these figures may overstate broadband availability, but remain the best data available on infrastructure deployment.

The state’s deployment of broadband infrastructure has reduced the number of New Yorkers without broadband available from a reported 518,000 to 253,000 people between 2013 and 2019.

Key findings:

• Approximately half of those without broadband available were downstate: Long Island (25%), New York City (12%) and the Mid-Hudson Valley (12%).
• The Capital Region had the lowest number of people in the state without broadband available at 3%, or approximately 6,000 people.
• Broadband was not available to 1.3% of New York’s population. Regionally, this varied from a high of 5% in the North Country to a low of 0.4% in New York City.
• Availability rates were lowest in counties with greater shares of population living in areas classified as rural. Counties with the highest percent of population without broadband available were Allegany (23.4%), Cattaraugus (17.9%) and Hamilton (14.7%).

Broadband Access
While broadband availability indicates a geographic area has been wired for that service, access to broadband indicates that a household has a subscription for services, including cellular service. In New York, the gap between availability and access was significant: while about 253,000 people did not have broadband available in their neighborhoods, over 1 million households, or 13.8%, did not have access or a subscription as of 2019. Almost half of all households without broadband access were in New York City.