Click here for the WCAX News story 

Peru, NY – In mid-2024, Peru Town Historian Helen Allen Nerska conducted several “History Chats” with longtime, well-known residents who shared fascinating stories about growing up and living in Peru, NY.

During these sessions, Helen Nerska interviewed a number of individuals: Barbara Copeland Perry, Monica Downs Remmilard, Douglas Brown, Judy Barber Walpole, Priscilla (Pam) Monette Altizer, Carol Davis Gallagher, Cheryl Woodward Randall, Frank Woodward, Bob McGee, Mary Downs Nisoff, and Janet Lacey Duprey.

The Peru Gazette was honored to record these interviews and looks forward to capturing Helen Nerska’s future interviews as well.

Click this link to see the videos on the Town of Peru webpage.  

Lasagna Rolls

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!

Addiction here is not some distant statistic; it’s an unrelenting force that has a corrupting grip on neighbors, classmates and loved ones.

Click here for the VTDigger story 

 All events are free and open to the public. April 26, 2025

May 7. Noon. Talk and Walk Wednesdays at CCHA, 98 Ohio Avenue, Plattsburgh. A virtual tour of Lake Champlain Lighthouses. Tour of the military gallery

May 8, 2:30 pm, Meadowbrook Healthcare, 154 Prospect Avenue, Plattsburgh. Clinton County’s Amazing Women – Part 1 with Helen Nerska. The stories of suffragist and community leader Marie Parkhurst Booth and the first female State Judge Luella Robinson North.

May 13, 6:45 pm, Lake Forest Retirement Community, 8 Lake Forest Drive, Plattsburgh. The Davidson Sisters: Darkness and Light. Local teenaged poets and sisters, Lucretia and Margaret Davidson, were once known nationwide as tragic and romantic figures in the literary world. Through anecdotal stories, journal entries, letters, and their own works, Lisabeth Guay will share insights into who these two extraordinary young ladies of Plattsburgh once were.

May 16, 12:30 pm, Plattsburgh Senior Center, 5139 North Catherine Street, Plattsburgh. Remembering Clinton County’s World War 1 Veterans and the Hometown celebrations which welcomed them back. Introducing the Clinton County WWI Record 1917-1919. 

May 22, 1:30 pm – Champlain Valley Senior Community, 10 Gilliland Lane, Willsboro. Portraits and Painters of the Early Champlain Valley (1800-1865) with Helen Nerska. Slides from a 1975 SUNY Plattsburgh exhibit with reflections on the history of the painters and the lives of the sitters.

May 22, 6:30 pm, CCHA, 98 Ohio Avenue, Plattsburgh. The Davidson Sisters: Darkness and Light. Local teenaged poets and sisters, Lucretia and Margaret Davidson, were once known nationwide as tragic and romantic figures in the literary world. Through anecdotal stories, journal entries, letters, and their own works, Lisabeth Guay will share insights into who these two extraordinary young ladies of Plattsburgh once were.

May 23, 6:30 pm, Plattsburgh Memorial Chapel, Old Base, Plattsburgh. God Save Benedict Arnold with author Jack Kelly sponsored by the Clinton County America250 Committee lead by the Clinton County Historical Association with funding from a 2025 Special Programs Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership. 

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of April 14, 2025. 
5. Community Input. 

6. DISCUSSION: Update for Culvert Projects by Engineering Ventures.

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval to Sign and Execute (GC) Contract for PWWTP Project.

8. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval to Sign and Execute (E) Contract for PWWTP Project.

9. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval to Sign and Execute(P) Contract for PWWTP Project.

10. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval to Sign and Execute (M) Contract for PWWTP Project.

11. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval to Purchase New Welder.

12. DISCUSSION: Telegraph Road Culvert Project Engineering Update

13. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:   Approval of Community Solar Contract Signing.

14. DISCUSSION: Re-hiring of Seasonal Laborer.

15. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of Porta-potty Rental Supplier.

16. DISCUSSION: Other Business, Town Council.

17. DISCUSSION: Other Business, Dept. Heads.

18. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

19. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION:  Pay Bills – April 2025

20. MOTION: Adjourn to Executive Session.

21. MOTION: Return from Executive Session.

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

Click here for the Syracuse.com story 

More than 8,800 pounds of medication returned to NY, MA, and VT pharmacies since program started

B-roll and Photos Available at this Link

SCHENECTADY, NY, April 25, 2025– This National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, April 26, 2025, Market 32 and Price Chopper are reminding guests that they don’t have to wait for a designated date to safely dispose of expired or unused medications. All of the company’s pharmacy locations in New York (47), Massachusetts (7), and Vermont (5) offer convenient, secure, and year-round drug take-back kiosks for customers and the public.

Located near the pharmacy counter, guests may place expired, unused, or unwanted medications in the kiosk during regular pharmacy hours—no questions asked. Since the kiosks were installed in 2023, Market 32 and Price Chopper have safely collected more than 8,856 pounds of medication.

“Medications can be lifesaving but if they’re expired, misused, or fall into the wrong hands, they can also cause real harm,” said Blaine Bringhurst, president of Market 32 and Price Chopper. “This program provides an easy way to dispose of medications and encourages guests to make safer choices for themselves and others. It’s one of many ways we are proud to support the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”

Each kiosk features a secure latch for easy drop-off and is designed to prevent tampering or removal of items once deposited. Guests may dispose of most prescription, over-the-counter, and pet medications in either the original dispensed packaging or sealed bag. Items not accepted include Schedule I controlled substances, illegal drugs, needles, thermometers, and medical devices.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Medication Safety Program, more than 1.5 million people visit emergency departments for an adverse drug event every year in the Unites States, and almost 500,000 require hospitalization. Safe disposal is a simple but important step in reducing that risk.

To find a pharmacy location nearest you, visit the Market 32 and Price Chopper pharmacy homepage or call 1 (800) 666-7667.

Lily Reed (Peru) is one of the featured writers.

The Adirondack Center for Writing (ACW) has announced the release of the third Wild Words: Adirondack Teen Writing Anthology, a collection of original creative writing by teens from across the North Country. Contributors range from 13 to 19 years old, and have written across various genres, including poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction.

“In Wild Words: Volume Three, our young authors navigate the liminal spaces between childhood and adulthood, connecting home to faraway places, the mythical to the mundane, the fantastic to the profane and dreams to hard-boiled realities,” said Wild Words editor, Emilie Allen. “We are excited to celebrate this year’s contributors, whose raw, unflinching prose and poetry showcase the extraordinary talent emerging from our region’s young voices.”

The public is invited to celebrate the publication with live readings from the young authors at two upcoming events.

The Saranac Lake launch is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the Harrietstown Town Hall, 39 Main Street. Teen contributors will read selections from their work. Copies of the 2025, 2024 and 2023 Wild Words anthologies will be available for purchase at $5 each.

Featured readers will include Marie Bullock (Keene Valley), Max Charlton (Huevelton), Ella Jeannette Combs (Tupper Lake), Chester Damon (St. Regis Falls), Luke Dalton (Chateaugay), Ellie Henderson (Saranac Lake), Issak Hadlock (St. Regis Falls), McKenna Karker (Fort Plain), Heaven LaFever (Saranac Lake), Mckenna Pearsall (Queensbury), Clara Parsons (Ellenburg Center), Lily Reed (Peru), Abigail Rivers (St. Regis Falls), Mya Robinson (Pulaski), Isiah Virkler (Croghan), among others. 

To learn more and register for the Saranac Lake launch, visit adirondackcenterforwriting.org/event/2025-wild-words-book-launch.

The second event will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at The Hyde Collection, 161 Warren Street, Glens Falls. In a collaboration between ACW and The Hyde Collection, this event will feature readings from Wild Words contributors alongside presentations by students featured in The Hyde’s 34th Annual High School Juried Show. To learn more and register, visit adirondackcenterforwriting.org/event/a-celebration-of-words-and-works.

Printing of the 2025 Wild Words Anthology was supported by a grant from Sylvamo.

The Adirondack Center for Writing has been bringing people and words together for 25 years through provocative events and meaningful programs. For more information about ACW, visit adirondackcenterforwriting.org or follow @adkctr4writing on Facebook and Instagram.

Child safety, adaptive cycling clinic previously funded by Foundation of CVPH 

PLATTSBURGH, NY (4/25/2025) – Managing diabetes, preventing hunger and promoting mental health are just some of the ways local groups can receive funding to strengthen the health of people across the North Country.

Applications are now available for the Community Grants program offered by University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) and The Foundation of CVPH. Grant applications should support community health needs as defined by the 2022-2024 Community Health Assessment. They should also address regional health and wellness issues within Clinton, Essex and/or Franklin Counties. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations.

The application deadline is Sunday, May 18 at 11:59 pm. Interested organizations can get more information and apply online. Funding decisions will be announced by June 6, with money being distributed by June 30.

Last year, the Community Grants program supported:

• A walking program in Champlain.
• A community adaptive cycling clinic.
• Firearm safety awareness with Clinton County.
• Bicycle helmets for the Child Advocacy Center’s Safe & Sound Family Health & Safety Expo.

Anyone with questions can contact Justin Graham, project manager for health, equity and community investment with University of Vermont Health Network,justin.graham@uvmhealth.org, or Kerry Haley, CFRE, associate vice president of philanthropy with The Foundation, Khaley@cvph.org.

Read more »

Youth Turkey Hunt Scheduled for April 26-27

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced that the regular spring turkey season for all licensed turkey hunters opens May 1 throughout upstate New York (north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary) and in Suffolk County on Long Island. DEC is also holding a Youth Turkey Hunting Season in advance of the regular season this Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27.

“Engaging youth hunters and their adult mentors is an opportunity to instill safety, responsibility, ethics, and an appreciation for the outdoors in the next generation of hunters,” Acting Commissioner Lefton said. “Guided by experienced mentors, young hunters can gain hands-on skills while enjoying the challenge and excitement that turkey hunting offers.”

Eligible hunters for the Youth Turkey Hunt weekend are 12 to 15 years of age who hold a hunting license and a turkey permit. All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult, as required by law for a junior hunter. Some conservation organizations host specific events during the Youth Hunt weekend. Each youth hunter can harvest one bearded bird during the two-day season. For more information, visit the DEC website.

Regular Season Opens May 1

New York has some of the best turkey hunting opportunities in the Northeast, with diverse landscapes and abundant turkey populations across the state. From hardwood forests and rolling hills in the Southern Tier, to agricultural fields and mixed woodlands in the Hudson Valley, hunters can find prime turkey habitat throughout New York.

Spring turkey harvests in New York average 16,000 to 18,000 birds, fluctuating based on participation and turkey productivity in previous breeding seasons. With improved summer poult production in recent years, DEC expects an increase in turkey harvest this spring. Since hunters primarily target toms (2+ year-old birds), turkey harvest often reflects productivity trends from two years prior.

Although New York turkey populations experienced declines from their peak in the early 2000s, populations are generally stable statewide. DEC continues to monitor population trends and implement conservation efforts to support sustainable hunting opportunities. Hunters play an essential role in monitoring populations by reporting their harvest and participating in DEC hunter opinion surveys. These efforts help DEC assess population dynamics, hunter participation, hunter values, and help ensure sustainable turkey populations for the future.

Other Important Details for the Spring Turkey Season, May 1-31, 2025:

• Hunting is permitted in most areas of the state, except for New York City and Nassau County;
• Hunters must have a turkey hunting permit in addition to their hunting license;
• Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day;
• Hunters may take two bearded turkeys during the spring season, but only one bird per day and no more than one bird per season in Wildlife Management Unit 1C (Suffolk County);
• Hunters may not use rifles or handguns firing a bullet. Hunters may hunt with a shotgun or handgun loaded with shot sizes no larger than No. 2 or smaller than No. 9, or with a bow or crossbow (except crossbows may not be used in Westchester or Suffolk counties);
• Successful hunters must fill out the tag that comes with their turkey permit and immediately attach it to any turkey harvested;
• Successful hunters must report their harvest within seven days of taking a bird. Call 1-866-426-3778 (1-866 GAMERPT) or report harvest online at DEC’s Game Harvest Reporting webpage; and
• For more information about turkey hunting in New York, see the 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the “Turkey Hunting” pages of DEC’s website.

Read more »

The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold a special meeting in the High School Community Room on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 7:30 AM.  The main purpose of this meeting is to vote on the BOCES (CVES) administrative budget and candidates running for open CVES board seats. At this time, no other district business is anticipated.

The agenda will be available on the District’s website (perucsd.org).

The meeting is open to the public.

Click here for the Burlington Free Press story 

Click here for  the Adirondack Almanac story 

Click here for the Yahoo.com story 

Matthew Brankman

By John T Ryan

April 24, 2025, Peru, NY – Many have been curious about what happened since the Livingoods Restaurant sign was taken down. A new establishment, Ledge Hill North, is now operating at 697 Bear Swamp Road. Matthew Brankman, the owner of Ledge Hill Brewing Co. in Ticonderoga, oversees this new venture. Brankman stated, “This is a ‘soft’ opening. For the next few days, we are on a feedback-collecting mission; our official grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, May 17. We want to learn what people are looking for.”

The operating hours are Wednesday through Friday from 4 PM to 8 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 12 PM to 8 PM.

Brankman has a passion for brewing beer. A six-year Navy veteran and a 20-year educator, including roles as an elementary school principal, he opened the first Ledge Hill Brewing Co. in his hometown of Westport in 2017. In 2022, he moved to 92 Montcalm St. in Ticonderoga. The new Peru location allows him to expand his vision and skill set. He remarked, “As a former educator, I like moving forward.” The popular Ticonderoga pub will continue.

Ledge Hill North will feature six to eight beers on tap, a full bar, and a hard cider made from delicious apples from Rulfs Orchards. Brankman mentioned, “The food menu will be familiar yet different. We want to honor what our predecessors have done here, but offer a new twist.” He also added that if customers have specific requests, they may introduce specials from time to time.

A July 24, 2022, Sun Community News story on Ledge Hill’s Ticonderoga opening beautifully describes Matthew Brankman’s business philosophy.  He stated, “There is something magical about beer; beer brings people together from all different demographics and walks of life and experiences,” mused Brankman thoughtfully. “Having a beer with somebody is a way to build community and connections – most of the good things that have happened in the history of the world have happened over a beer,” Brinkman said he hopes Ledge Hill will be a place where people can come together and transcend age and occupations and enjoy themselves and one another…” 

April 24, 2025 Correction, 7:15 PM. It is Matthew Brankman, not Brinkman. Spellchecker gone rogue.

The incident constitutes the largest immigration enforcement action against migrant workers in Vermont in recent memory.

Click here for the VTDigger story 

Click here for the WPTZ News story 

Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 19 at 6:14 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from two hikers looking for assistance getting down from the top of Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway. The two 19-year-olds from Quebec were not prepared for the cold and rainy conditions on the trail. At 6:52 p.m., Forest Rangers Curcio and Foutch reached the hikers on the road. Their clothes were soaked through, and if further subjected to the cold, the pair would likely have suffered from hypothermia. Rangers provided warm clothes and transported the hikers to their vehicle. Resources were clear by 7:50 p.m.

To avoid similar issues, hikers are encouraged to check the weather before a hike, wear insulating layers, and bring traction devices when icy conditions are possible.

Town of Newcomb
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On April 21 at 2 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from New York State Police about a GPS beacon initiated by a lost hiker. Coordinates placed the hiker off the Santanoni Express trail near the junction with the Bradley Pond trail. At 5:05 a.m., Forest Ranger Martin located the 36-year-old from Brockport and 41-year-old from Fairport and escorted the hikers back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 7:50 a.m.

Click here for the Observer-Dispatch story