The Peru Gazette

Source: Laid-off Albany teachers rehired as substitutes

Source: Plattsburgh mayoral candidates focus on city development, regional relationships in debate

Source: Nursing homes navigate new regulations | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | While the length of in-person visitation after a positive case has been halved, visitors must now provide proof of their own recent COVID test.

Source: Trump And Biden Debate Tuesday. Here’s What You Need To Know | NCPR News

Source: Cuomo takes steps to control COVID-19 clusters | NCPR News

Source: North Country climate voters’ response to the election? “Existential dread.” | NCPR News

Source: Another day of full sunshine!

Source: ‘World class’ detox clinic breaks ground in Stowe – VTDigger

Source: Northern lights may be visible from Northern New York, Vermont this week

“New coronavirus clusters in Brooklyn and in Rockland and Orange counties are driving a new surge in infections, according to the latest state data. Hospitalizations have increased for seven straight days and 1.5% of reported tests – the highest number since mid-July.”Source: City & State Coronavirus Update

Elmore SPCA is having a “Christmas in October” sale on October 16th and 17th at 10 Pinewood Drive, Peru. We will have beautiful hand made items, themed baskets, pet items and new items. Get a start on your holiday shopping!

If you would like to donate a new item or craft item for the sale please contact Carol at shelterathome@gmail.com.  Mark your calendars. All proceeds directly benefit our shelter animals.
Feel free to share!

Source: Montreal and Quebec City will be upgraded to red alert ‘in coming days’, says Dubé | CBC News

Source: Schools reconsider mascots that have racial, cultural ties – VTDigger

Source: Panic attacks. Ringing ears. Shaking walls. Happy 1-year anniversary to the F-35s. – VTDigger

Source: Canada’s Festive Christmas Train Won’t Be Passing Through Montreal This Holiday Season – MTL Blog

Source: Beekmantown Central: Presumed COVID positive teacher has tested negative | Sun Community News BEEKMANTOWN | While several people remain in quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test among students, Beekmantown Central School District said the one teache

Source: Innovative outlet for creatives: Strand to host art market | News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Making the case for water reporting – – The Adirondack Almanack

Source: Open Spaces and Community Trails | Adirondack Wayfinder

Washington, D.C.  – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has announced a $541,755 grant to be awarded to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) for the Lake Champlain Management Program. This funding will continue an ongoing long-term water quality and biological monitoring program, which detects environmental changes in the Lake.

“Lake Champlain is a vast and diverse ecological resource for the North Country, and I am proud that this funding will be utilized to make management decisions and conserve the water quality of the Lake,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I advocate for funding for Lake Champlain each year in the Appropriations process, and I am proud to continue to support programs like these that conduct important work in conserving the Lake and its surrounding area for generations to come.”

A Stewart’s New Release

Stewart’s Shops has been evolving over the years to “Make Your Life Easier.” The 75-year evolution has taken the iconic convenience store chain from a simple ice cream shop to the neighborhood store on every corner with something for everyone.

In 1945, the first Stewart’s Shop was purchased on Church Avenue in Ballston Spa from Donald Stewart. Since that purchase, Stewart’s has brought both innovation and disruption with products, services and their vertical integration to better serve the customer and to make their customers’ lives easier.

In the 50s, the company focused on ice cream, introducing the ‘Make Your Own’ Sundae and expanded to a few dozen shops. The paper folding half-gallon ice cream carton was introduced and is still used to this day.

In the 60s, they offered milk and bread, offering a lower cost option as opposed to home delivery. The ability to buy half gallons of milk in a store completely disrupted and forever hindered the delivery industry.

In the 70s, they offered gas and easier parking for shopping; they started buying numerous small gas stations, as major oil companies were looking to unload their smaller gas stations.

In the 80s, Stewart’s became your coffee shop, introducing ‘Make Your Own’ coffee stations with self-serve glass coffee pots and pastries.

In the 90s, beverage packaging was reinvented with plastic blow mold containers they manufactured themselves using their vertical integration. Stewart’s Refreshers were introduced, and Stewart’s became your beverage shop.

In the 2000s, while most companies were trying to cut staff and automate, Stewart’s invested in its Partners with ESOP and its systems. Employees owned over 1/3 of the company through their ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan).

In the 2010s, Stewart’s became a restaurant expanding their kitchen to prepare food for both in-shop dining and take home food options to make their customers’ lives easier.

(For more details about Stewart’s Shops history, visit our News Page).

Stewart’s credits this series of innovations to their success as a company; they are now in a unique position of profitability and stability to make investments and grow their business. The chain has invested $150 million in shop construction over the past three years. With no signs of slowing down, they will have 19 new shops in 2020 and a 60,000 sq. foot addition to their warehouse/distribution plant will be completed in 2021. The warehouse expansion will further enhance the vertical integration that has made Stewart’s the company it is today.

The long-term approach to family and employee ownership has created Partner loyalty and an ownership mentality.  The company has 90 millionaires and that number continues to climb with double-digit contributions since the program began and double-digit growth for the past seven years.  They believe in giving back to the communities they serve and together with the Dake Family, they provide over $7.5 million to nonprofits each year, with an additional $1m in COVID relief given to nonprofits this year.

President of Stewart’s Shops, Gary Dake says, “Thanks to our evolution, we’re fortunate to be in a position to continue investing in new shops and systems, maintain and grow our ESOP program and continue our generous contributions program to make our communities even stronger.”

Today, Stewart’s employs over 5,000 Partners with 340 locations in 31 counties across upstate New York and Southern Vermont.

Stewart’s invites you to join the 75^th Anniversary celebration next week! Stop by your local shop for the half-gallon ice cream sale, from Monday, 9/28 to Sunday, 10/4; all half gallons are only $3.19.  And join them on National Coffee Day on Tuesday, 9/29 for free hot, iced and cold brew coffee from noon to close (excludes Coffee and Cold Brew Refreshers). See a video of our history here: https://vimeo.com/460645119