The Peru Gazette

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News Release of Dec. 15, 2025 – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 5 invites the public to attend the annual Children’s Holiday Party at the regional headquarters in Ray Brook on Thursday, December 18, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Children and their families can meet Santa and Smokey Bear, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and participate in a variety of activities including cookie decorating and coloring.

The DEC Region 5 headquarters is located at 1115 NYS Route 86, Ray Brook, NY 12977. The event will take place in the building’s lobby and main conference room. Please park in the lot directly in front of the building and enter through the front doors. The event is free and open to all members of the public. No RSVP is required.

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‘Study river’ segments are still waiting for official classification, 50 years later

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Ham 

Scalloped 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!

For this installment of Campfire Fare, Adirondack Outlaw Dick Monroe shares a hunting story

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Stories of resilience and community spanning generations

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Clinton County News Release of 12/12/25 – Clinton County has officially completed the sale of its County-owned nursing home, marking the execution of a long-planned transition designed to protect residents, support staff, and provide long-term fiscal relief for county taxpayers. The closing represents the culmination of extensive due diligence and planning to ensure the facility’s ongoing service to the community.

County leadership emphasized that the transition focuses on continuity—continuity of care for residents, continuity for families who depend on the facility, and continuity of employment for staff who chose to remain through the ownership change.

“This has always been about honoring our responsibilities and putting the needs of the people who rely on this nursing home every day first.” said Mark Henry (Chazy, Area 3-R), Chair of the Clinton County Legislature. “Our priority from the beginning was ensuring residents continue receiving the high-quality care they deserve, while also making a responsible financial decision for our taxpayers. Today’s closing achieves both goals.”

County officials worked to ensure that employees who elected to stay on through the transition were afforded stability and remained supported throughout the process.

“Our team has been committed to a thoughtful and transparent transition,” said County Administrator Christine Peters. “We focused on protecting services, supporting the dedicated staff who serve our residents, and making decisions that strengthen the County’s long-term financial position. I want to thank the employees and residents’ families for their patience and engagement throughout this process.”

“Bottom line, we wanted to make sure the residents were looked after and things stayed steady,” said Kevin Randall (Morrisonville, Area 5-R), Chair of the Human Services Committee. “The folks who live there depend on that stability, and the staff who stayed on do too. This also takes a load off the taxpayers, and that’s important for the County moving forward.”

The sale alleviates the substantial financial burden the facility has historically placed on the County budget, while preserving the essential services the community depends on. A key priority throughout this process was keeping residents in their home community, which is why the county pursued a deliberate and thoughtful approach to ensure the right long-term outcome. County leaders shared that the transition reflects months of careful planning to support residents, employees, and taxpayers alike, and they are confident the facility will continue to serve the community well into the future.

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There is an excellent story about this law’s local impact in the December 13, 2025 Press-Republican 

Alveena Altaf, MD

Angad Gill, MD

Plattsburgh practice welcomes new patients

News Release of Dec. 12, 2025, Plattsburgh, NY – CVPH Endocrinology welcomes two board certified endocrinologists to its growing specialty care team – a significant expansion that will improve local access to expert diabetes, metabolic and hormonal-related care in the North Country.

Joining Tina Kader, MD, Ashley Williams, PA-C and Ann Watts, CDE are Alveena Altaf, MD and Angad Gill, MD. Dr. Altaf completed her residency and a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX. She a graduate of Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Kan, Pakistan and the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.  Dr. Altaf is board certified in internal medicine.  Dr. Altaf is board certified in internal medicine.

Dr. Gill completed a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo and a residency in internal medicine at Griffin Hospital, an affiliate of Yale School of Medicine, in Derby, CT.   Board certified in internal medicine, he is a graduate of the Adesh Institute of Medicine Sciences and Research, Bathinda, PB, India.

Both providers are accepting new patients at 210 Cornelia St., Suite 303. To schedule an appointment in Plattsburgh, call 518-314-3460.

Part of the University of Vermont Health System Medical Group, the CVPH endocrinology team takes great pride in working with each patient to develop individual treatment and management plans that include education and guidance on lifestyle management.

“Our mission is simple: to bring exceptional, high-quality care right to the communities we serve. We believe every patient deserves advanced, compassionate, and convenient care—close to home and tailored to their needs. Our providers take great pride in delivering state-of-the-art treatment while empowering patients with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to manage their conditions confidently, prevent complications, and enjoy the best possible quality of life,” said Jennifer Kelly, DO, Division Chief of Endocrinology

Learn more about these providers and other valued members of the medical staff at www.uvmhealth.org.

The Emergency Department (ED) at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital celebrates the DAISY Team Award during a surprise ceremony. “They didn’t just provide care. They created a connection. By treating a young patient like a friend, this entire team shows that true healing begins with compassion,” explains Michael Wells, BSN, RN, ED nurse manager.

Katie Totten, RN (left) and Hailey McLaughlin, RN were two of four nurses who received the DAISY Team Award during a surprise ceremony with their Emergency Department colleagues at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. They were honored for the compassionate care they provided to an autistic four-year-old boy who had a serious fear of hospital settings.

Four nurses honored with DAISY Team Award for helping a young autistic patient feel safe and brave 

CVPH News Release of Dec. 11, 2025, Plattsburgh, NY – When Alexandria Stefaniak carried her four-year-old son into the Emergency Department at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, fear filled the air. Her little boy, who is autistic, had always been afraid of hospitals. Stefaniak expected tears, panic and heartbreak.

Instead, a group of nurses transformed that moment of fear into one of courage and comfort. Stefaniak says Katie Totten, RN and Hailey McLaughlin, RN went beyond excellent clinical care of her child, giving him hope and his family peace. She remembers them speaking gently to him, explaining every step and making sure he felt safe. Stefaniak says they felt like family.

“They went above and beyond words can even express,” Stefaniak writes in her nomination of the nurses for the DAISY Team Award at the hospital. “They made him feel comfortable and gave him the best experience. This resulted in him not being afraid of the hospital anymore. He was the bravest boy I have ever seen him be.”

Totten and McLaughlin weren’t alone. Lysandra Barney, RN and Courtney Coon, RN played an equally vital role. They purchased Hot Wheels cars to turn anxiety into curiosity.

“Courtney and Lysandra showed remarkable compassion by using simple objects to spark curiosity and comfort,” says Michael Wells, BSN, RN, nurse manager in the Emergency Department. “Their creativity helped a young patient shift his focus from fear to fun, building trust in a moment that mattered most.”

Stefaniak adds this was life-changing for a child who had always dreaded medical visits. She noticed the nurses didn’t rush, watching them connect, laugh and celebrate his bravery. “It not only meant the world to him but for both of us as parents as well,” Stefaniak shares. She adds that by the time they left, her son was calm and proud. She says he faced his fears and came out stronger, thanks to four nurses who understood that care is about more than medicine.

Stefaniak believes her son will remember these nurses for a long time. So will she. “I am so grateful for them,” she writes. “They made a difference for my son, and for me.”

The nurses were presented with the DAISY Team Award during a surprise ceremony with their Emergency Department colleagues. During the award presentation, they received a certificate commending them as extraordinary nurses. They, like all honorees, also received a DAISY Award pin.

Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2018 to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients. Nomination forms and boxes are located at each of the hospital’s main entrances and online atUVMHealth.org. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues.  A committee reviews nominations and awards a deserving nurse each quarter.

The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.The DAISY Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System). The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. More information is available at DAISYfoundation.org

City Police News Release, PLATTSBURGH, NY – On December 5th, 2025 at approximately 4:00am, members of the
Plattsburgh Police Department Patrol Division responded to “The Card Shop” located within Plattsburgh Plaza for a report of an alarm activation. When Patrol Officers arrived, they observed significant damage to the glass door into the business. Initial investigative actions determined that a male dressed in dark clothing and a facemask used a hammer to smash the glass front door to gain entry into the business. The suspect then stole various amounts of rare “Pokemon” Trading
Cards before fleeing the area. In total the stolen property amounted over $10,000 dollars.

The Plattsburgh Police Department Detective Division continued the investigation and was able to develop several viable leads. Dozens of community members were interviewed during this investigation. Ultimately, home security camera footage was used to identify a vehicle that the suspect got into after committing this crime. After several days, the owner of the vehicle and their
associates were identified.

On December 11th, 2025, Detectives and Patrol Officers executed numerous search warrants. A search warrant was executed on City Hall Place, another in the Town of Plattsburgh, and a third search warrant was executed on an involved vehicle. Detectives and Patrol Officers recovered a significant amount of property and believe that most of the stolen property, as well as items used
in the commission of the crime, were recovered.

“The Plattsburgh Police Department would like to recognize and thank the community for its assistance throughout this investigation” said, Chief Jarrod Trombley. “It’s the Community’s trust and assistance that often provides the vital leads that assist in solving crimes.”

Gov. Hochul News Release, Dec. 12, 2025 – Governor Kathy Hochul today highlighted that schools across New York State have served more than 150 million free meals since the start of the school year in September, following implementation of the Governor’s Universal School Meals law. Now that State law ensures all New York students have access to free breakfast and lunch, schools across the state are serving more than 2.5 million free meals per school day. Free school meals are estimated to save families $165 per child in grocery spending each month and have been shown to support learning, boost test scores, and improve attendance and classroom behavior. With approximately 2.7 million students in New York State, universal school meals can help families statewide save up to $450 million per month on grocery costs.

“Universal Free School Meals are putting money back in families’ pockets and guaranteeing every student the nourishment they need to thrive, no questions asked,” Governor Hochul said. “No kid should go hungry in the classroom, and no parent should have to stretch their budget to pack a lunch. With 150 million meals now served to our students, we’re fighting for New York kids and making New York more affordable.”

Governor Hochul’s Universal School Meals law, which she signed in May, ensures that every student in New York State has access to a healthy breakfast and lunch at school. By eliminating any financial requirements to receive this benefit, New York State has also leveled the playing field and given parents back the money they would be spending.

The law enacted by the Governor included $340 million for Universal Free School Meals, allowing all students in participating schools to eat breakfast and lunch at no charge regardless of their families’ income. The Governor’s initiative requires all school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools that participate in the national school lunch and breakfast program to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all students regardless of their families’ income, thereby reducing costs for families and ensuring that no student goes hungry at school. Under this initiative, the State now covers the student’s share of costs for all meals served to students not already receiving free meals.

Rob Dow is taking a new job coaching the men’s soccer team at Penn State, UVM announced Thursday.

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