The Peru Gazette

Clinton County News Release of Dec. 19, 2025 – Clinton County has adopted its 2026 Operating Budget, delivering residents another year of meaningful tax relief. The new budget decreases the gross tax rate from $3.98 to $3.74 per $1,000 of assessed value, a 6 percent reduction. The total tax levy also decreases by $32,767, marking the lowest levy since 2019.

Legislature Chair Mark Henry (Chazy, Area 3-R) said this year’s tax rate reduction is a direct reflection of sustained fiscal responsibility and shared accountability across county operations. “This reduction is the result of several years of careful budgeting encompassing a deliberate effort to protect taxpayers,” said Legislature Chair Mark Henry. “Our clear message to department heads was to hold the line on spending. The Legislature remains committed to ensuring that residents see real, tangible benefits from the County budget.   Delivering a lower tax rate while preserving core services is something that benefits every resident and something we are very proud to achieve.”

County Administrator Christine Peters, who prepared the spending plan, noted that lowering the rate required extensive collaboration. “Achieving a tax rate reduction in a year marked by inflation, increased state mandates, and shifting federal priorities required significant diligence,” said Peters. “Once the initial departmental requests came in, our department heads worked extremely hard to roll up their sleeves and identify efficiencies without compromising essential services. Their partnership made this outcome possible.”

Finance Committee Chair Rob Timmons (Peru, Area-10-R) highlighted the fiscal practices that allowed the County to stay within the cap. “We approach the budget each year with a long-term lens, knowing stability matters to both residents and the County’s financial health,” said Finance Chair Rob Timmons. “Staying under the tax cap required difficult decisions, but also careful planning, responsible use of reserves, and a collaborative effort across departments to identify savings without undermining service delivery.”

The adopted budget positions Clinton County for continued long-term fiscal stability while meeting growing community needs and protecting essential services.

DEC’s Camps, Centers, and Educators Engaged with More than 41,000 Youth in 2025

NYS News Release of Dec. 19, 2025 – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced that online registration for DEC’s 2026 Summer Camps program will open Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 1 p.m. The six weeks of environmental education-focused outdoor fun is just one of DEC’s many environmental education offerings that in 2025 alone, engaged more than 41,000 youth from communities across the state.

“DEC’s Summer Camp program provides a fun learning experience for kids to develop outdoor skills, identify wildlife, practice hunting and fishing, and so much more,” DEC Commissioner Lefton said. “Highly trained camp staff and professionals organize inclusive camp activities and help the next generation of outdoor stewards build lifelong memories and skills. It is one of the many ways DEC’s environmental education teams work each day to connect New Yorkers of all ages and abilities to our natural resources and help people take Governor Kathy Hochul’s advice to Get Offline and Get Outside.”

Now in its 79^th year, the DEC Summer Camps program offers week-long adventures in conservation education for children ages 11-17. DEC operates four residential camps for kids: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake, Franklin County; Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor, Sullivan County; Camp Pack Forest in Warrensburg, Warren County; and Camp Rushford in Caneadea, Allegany County.

DEC’s Bureau of Environmental Education operated all four summer camps in 2025 for the first time since 2019. There were 1,108 campers and 93 campership youth (underserved children who receive camper scholarships), an increase of 29% and 342% over 2024, respectively.

For Summer 2026, Camp Rushford will offer five weeks of programing for campers aged 11 to 13, and two weeks for 14- to 17-year-olds. Camp Colby will operate four weeks of camp for 11- to 13-year-olds, and three weeks for campers aged 14 to 17. Camp DeBruce will offer five weeks for kids ages 11 to 13 and two weeks for 14- to 17-year-olds. Camp Pack Forest will host campers ages 11 to 13 for three weeks, and 14- to 17-year-olds for four weeks. Camps Colby and Pack Forest will each have one Outdoor Adventure Week. The complete schedule of camp weeks and ages is available on the Summer Camps webpage. Read more »

‘Conservation Conversations’ books blend personal stories with insights from 40+ years protecting Champlain Valley waterways

Click here for the Adirondack Explorer story 

Named in Memory of New York State Police Lieutenant Joseph Banish, Bill Seeks To Reduce Stigma and Create Formal Pathways For First Responder Mental Wellness

NYS News Release of Dec. 18, 2025 – Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to establish confidentiality requirements for communications made by law enforcement during peer-to-peer counseling sessions. Amid a rise in suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder rates among police officers, this legislation, named in memory of New York State Police Lieutenant Joseph Banish who died by suicide in 2008, seeks to reduce stigma and create formal pathways for first responder mental wellness while ensuring communications are protected and disclosure standards are established.

“Protecting New York’s first responders and ensuring they are well-equipped with support to successfully fulfill their duties is an essential part of my public safety mission,” Governor Hochul said. “Law enforcement officers who protect our communities during times of crisis deserve counseling services that are tailored to their unique experiences and conducted with discretion. By strengthening these programs, we are ensuring safe settings for honest conversations to improve the mental health and well-being of our first responders.”

Legislation S6244A/A6721A, named the “Lieutenant Joseph Banish Mental Health Act,” establishes confidentiality protections for law enforcement peer support counseling and sets standards for disclosure of communications made during a formal sessions that contain a threat of suicidal or an expression of suicidal ideation; a threat of bodily harm or death; an admission of criminal conduct; or information relating to the abuse or neglect of a child

Suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder rates among police officers surpass those of the general public and are often attributed to the difficult nature of the work and exposure to traumatic incidents. Police officers also face difficulty obtaining mental health services in a setting that recognizes the unique nature of their jobs and work culture. In response, many jurisdictions have established “peer counseling” programs. By promoting confidentiality, this new law strengthens these programs and encourages open, honest dialogue while addressing potential concerns about protected information.

Earlier this year, Governor Hochul highlighted the State’s ongoing efforts to improve first responder mental health and wellness. New resources available include a Responder Wellness Program Primer, an informational resource intended to help state and local public safety agencies develop or enhance their responder wellness programs; a video that highlights the unique mental health needs of first responders; and the launch of a new website dedicated to first responder mental health and wellness. Read more »

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Takes place the the Wallonsburg Grange Hall, Refreshments at 2 p.m., performance begins at 3 p.m. Admission is free, with donations gratefully accepted to support area food pantries.

Click here for the NCPR story 

Applications Accepted Through February 3, 2026

NYS News Release of Dec, 18, 2025 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of the Excelsior Scholarship application for students attending college during the 2026 spring semester. The spring Excelsior application allows eligible students who plan to enroll full-time at a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college for the spring 2026 term, as well as those who missed the fall application, to apply for the Excelsior Scholarship. This landmark program helps remove financial barriers to higher education by covering tuition costs, enabling more New York students to pursue their college goals without taking on tuition debt.

“Each year, the Excelsior Scholarship helps transform the lives of tens of thousands of New York students by making tuition-free college a reality and strengthening affordability across the State,” Governor Hochul said. “This program cements our commitment to ensuring every eligible student can earn a degree without the weight of debt. When we invest in our students, we invest in the families, communities and future of New York State.”

To be eligible to receive the Excelsior Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Have an adjusted combined federal household income of $125,000 or less
• ​Be pursuing a full-time undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college or university
• Complete at least 30 credits per year in an approved program of study
• Live and work in New York State for a duration equal to the number of years the scholarship was received

​To be eligible to receive the Excelsior Scholarship, students who qualify for federal aid must complete the FAFSA and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application.

Town of Crown Point
Essex County
Ice Rescue: On December 10 at 6:25 p.m., the Essex County Sheriff’s Office requested Forest Ranger assistance with an ice rescue on Lake Champlain. A 33-year-old from Montreal was living on a moored sailboat. The cold weather caused ice to form, locking the boat in place more than a mile from shore. Rangers Perryman, Quinn, and Thompson used an airboat and broke the ice on the way to create a path to the sailboat. Rangers helped the subject onto the airboat and transported them to shore. Resources were clear at 10 p.m.

Ice Rescue 

Boat rescue 

Town of Fine
St. Lawrence County
Wilderness Recovery: On December 11 at 1:04 p.m., New York State Police (NYSP) requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a missing subject who may have entered the property of the SUNY ESF Ranger School. The 41-year-old from Star Lake was involved in a one-car accident on Route 3 two days earlier. When NYSP arrived, the car was unoccupied. Rangers, NYSP, the Star Lake Fire Department, and the Cranberry Lake Fire Department all participated in the search. At 4:17 p.m., a search team led by Ranger Shea found the subject’s windbreaker and then located the subject deceased on school property. Rangers turned him over to the County Coroner. Resources were clear at 7:15 p.m. NYSP is handling the investigation.

DEC Division of Forest Protection Job Opening
DEC is now hiring for a seasonal radio dispatcher position in Ray Brook, Essex County. Details and information on how to apply by December 19 are available.

Dispatcher job opening 

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Dec. 17, 2025 Chamber of Commerce Facebook Post – North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas has been identified by City & State Magazine among their “2025 Responsible 100” honorees. The Responsible 100 list is, according to City & State, “intended to recognize New York’s most powerful execs, thought leaders, visionaries and influencers who are setting new standards of excellence, dedication and leadership in improving their communities and making transformative change by successfully promoting principles of social responsibility.”

Douglas sees the selection as “recognition of a remarkable team.” He cites “the work of major Chambers as going to the heart of progress, committed to sustaining, enhancing and growing employment; engaging directly in life-changing activities like training; providing leadership in response to regional challenges; and helping to build quality communities which are crucial to a quality economy. A salute to our great staff, volunteers and members on this recognition of what we continue to do together. Onward and upward!”

A Wind Advisory has been issued for much of northern New York and portions of Vermont for tomorrow. Strong southerly winds are expected to develop during the day tomorrow, with gusts up to 55 mph possible. Be sure to secure any outdoor objects, like decorations, as gusty winds may blow them around.

Governor Claims Protections Will Ensure Integrity of Patient Decision and Preparedness of Medical Institutions

Gov. Hochul News Release of December 17, 2025 – Governor Hochul today announced an agreement with the Legislature to make medical aid in dying available to terminally ill New Yorkers with less than six months to live. This comes after careful reflection and deliberation with the bill’s sponsors, advocacy organizations, and most importantly, everyday New Yorkers who shared personal experiences with the Governor. The bill, with the agreed-upon amendments, will be passed and signed in January, and the law will go into effect six months later.

“New York has long been a beacon of freedom, and now it is time we extend that freedom to terminally ill New Yorkers who want the right to die comfortably and on their own terms,” said Governor Hochul. “My mother died of ALS, and I am all too familiar with the pain of seeing someone you love suffer and being powerless to stop it. Although this was an incredibly difficult decision, I ultimately determined that with the additional guardrails agreed upon with the legislature, this bill would allow New Yorkers to suffer less–to shorten not their lives, but their deaths.

The bill, as passed by the Legislature, had a number of protections in place to ensure that no patient was coerced into utilizing medical aid in dying and no doctor or religiously affiliated health facility was forced to offer medical aid in dying. With today’s agreement, the Governor announces a number of additional guardrails that the Legislature has agreed to enact aimed at ensuring the integrity of the patient’s decision and the preparedness of medical institutions to appropriately administer medical aid in dying. Today’s agreement memorializes a shared path forward on this bill, with additional key guardrails, including:

• A mandatory waiting period of 5 days between when a prescription is written and filled.
• An oral request by the patient for medical aid in dying must be recorded by video or audio.
• A mandatory mental health evaluation of the patient seeking medical aid in dying by a psychologist or psychiatrist.
• A prohibition against anyone who may benefit financially from the death of a patient from being eligible to serve as a witness to the oral request or an interpreter for the patient.
• Limiting the availability of medical aid in dying to New York residents.
• Requiring that the initial evaluation of a patient by a physician be in person.
• Allowing religiously-oriented home hospice providers to opt out of offering medical aid in dying.
• Ensuring that a violation of the law is defined as professional misconduct under the Education Law.
• Extending the effective date of the bill to six months after signing to allow the Department of Health to put into place regulations required to implement the law while also ensuring that health care facilities can properly prepare and train staff for compliance.

State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “Today, we make history. This agreement on Medical Aid in Dying is a monumental victory for every New Yorker who has wished to peacefully end their suffering from a terminal illness. Since we first introduced this legislation nine years ago, I have consistently said this bill is not about ending life, it’s about shortening death. I’m proud that New York is now the 13th state, along with Washington, D.C., that will offer expanded end-of-life care so that terminally ill New Yorkers gain greater autonomy over how much pain and suffering they must endure. I want to thank Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, and Governor Kathy Hochul for her leadership and willingness to take on a difficult issue and help limit the suffering of New Yorkers. Most of all, we owe a deep debt of gratitude to those afflicted with a terminal illness and their families, who shared the heart-wrenching details of their end-of-life decision making in the hopes of improving the options for future generations. New York is a state of dignity and compassion for New Yorkers at all stages of life, and today’s announcement proves just that.” Read more »

Click here to view the Calvin Castine Video 

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Friend presses DEC for answers six months after Assistant Ranger Jackson’s death 

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