The Peru Gazette

Source: NYS Department of Health stops Meadowbrook’s plans for visitation

Source: Peru community members deliver passioned plea | Sun Community News PERU | Community members delivered a passioned response to school superintendent Dr. Thomas Palmer July 22 — do not change our mascot.

Source: AuSable Chasm in the Era of COVID | Jack LaDuke’s Adirondack Journal – Mountain Lake PBS

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced that Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) has been awarded a $250,000 grant through the HHS’ Rural Health Care Coordination Network Program. The purpose of the program is to support rural health consortiums/networks aiming to achieve the overall goals of improving access, delivery, and quality of care through the application of care coordination strategies in rural communities.

“Our rural health systems provide critical care and services to North Country residents, and they have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I am proud to announce this funding for Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital as they continue their important work of serving Plattsburgh area residents. I have continuously advocated for and delivered direct financial support to our hospitals and community health centers, and I will continue to work hard on their behalf.”

Source: City & State Coronavirus Update

State Senator Betty Little has been appointed to serve on the board of the Olympic Regional Development Agency (ORDA).  Her nomination by Governor Andrew Cuomo was confirmed today by the State Senate.

“I’ve long advocated for ORDA as a member of the Assembly and Senate,” said Little.  “To serve on the board will truly be an honor and a wonderful opportunity to stay involved and continue to make a positive difference for the North Country Region.”

Little has secured millions of dollars in State funding critical to recent upgrades and expansion of ORDA’s winter sports facilities.  Little played a key role in the International University Sports Federation’s selection of Lake Placid as the site for the 2023 Winter World University Games.

ORDA was created by New York State to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates the Whiteface Mountain, Gore Mountain and Belleayre ski areas as well as the Olympic Center, Olympic Jumping Complex and Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid.

“Wherever I go, if I say I represent Lake Placid, people know exactly what I am talking about.  Our incredible Winter Olympic history is a source of tremendous pride.  But it’s not enough to be historic, we need to remain relevant.  I am very grateful Governor Cuomo has entrusted in me and the others appointed to the board this important mission.”

The board position is unpaid.  Little is retiring from the Senate at the end of this year.

1. Call Meeting To Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. MOTION: Approval of Minutes for the Town Board Regular Meeting of July 13, 2020.

5. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Approval of AES Northeast’s Town of Peru Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades and Disinfection Project Agreement.

6. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Quote for Town Hall Paver Repair.

7. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Hire IT Service Provider.

8. DISCUSSION: Zoning Code Updates.

9. DISCUSSION: Sewer Project Update.

10. DISCUSSION: Other Business.

11. DISCUSSION: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only.

12. RESOLUTION/DISCUSSION: Pay Bills

13. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Adjourn to Executive Session.

14. DISCUSSION/MOTION: Return to Regular Session

MOTION: Adjourn

**In an effort to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, this Town Board Meeting will not be open to the public. The minutes will be available online as soon as they are approved at the following Board Meeting of August 10, 2020. Thank you for your understanding in this matter and stay safe!

            The Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act (S.8663/A8767) has now passed in both the Assembly and the Senate. The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) and Assemblyman Dan Stec (R-Queensbury), was passed unanimously by the Assembly on Monday, July 20, 2020. The Senate passed the bill yesterday with only one member voting in the negative where the bill was sponsored by Senator Timothy Kennedy (D-Buffalo) and Senator Betty Little (R-Queensbury).

The bill would establish the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force, a pilot program to help protect the environment while ensuring safe road conditions. It’s important to ensure safe travel conditions during the winter, but the pollution stemming from the excessive road salt use on public roads presents a risk to both the environment and public health. Road salt can leech into surface and groundwater, releasing heavy metals and other toxins into the environment and drinking water supply that threaten the health and safety of North Country families.

“When it comes to keeping our lakes, rivers and streams and water wells clean, the old adage of an ‘ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure’ certainly fits,” said Little.  “The good news, as we’ve seen in municipalities such as Lake George where there has been a tremendous focus on this issue, is that newer equipment and utilizing technology is helping our local highway departments do their incredibly important work of keeping our roadways safe while cutting back on road salt usage.  My hope is that we can do the same throughout the Park.  A comprehensive study, including a pilot program, would give us the data we need to develop best practices.”

“While safety always remains our top priority for residents during the winter months,” said Jones. “it is incumbent upon us to find ways to protect drivers without harming the environment and polluting our drinking water. This effort was spearheaded by the late Randy Preston and upon speaking with his wife, Michelle, she was elated that his legacy will be carried on. This legislation is a crucial step in providing protection for our natural water sources while also keeping the roads safe for travel during the winter. I’d like to thank my colleagues for supporting this measure and encourage the governor to do the same.”

“It’s imperative that we strike a balance of providing safety to our residents while addressing the ecological health of our waterways,” said Stec. “A proactive environmental strategy which also addresses the need for safe passable highways is long overdue in the Adirondacks. This proposed Pilot Program will supply us with the data needed to proceed towards a favorable outcome. I am proud to be a sponsor of this legislation and I am pleased that this bill has passed both houses and will be delivered to the Governor.”

The Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force will gather and summarize available information and recommend best management practices for winter road maintenance in the Adirondacks. This includes recommendations for updated levels of service and road salt reduction targets to help the state Departments of Transportation, Health and Environmental Conservation reduce the level of water contamination while maintaining road safety.

Source: North Country prisons emptying as New York’s inmate population plummets | NCPR News

CALABASAS, Calif.—Eight high school skilled trades teachers and programs from New York State are among 50 teachers and teacher teams from across the country who were named today as finalists for the 2020 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. Peru High School teacher Leif Sorgule is one of the eight New York finalists. The teachers and their trades programs are in the running for a share of $1 million in total cash awards. The finalists were chosen by an independent panel of judges from a field of more than 600 skilled trades teachers applied for the prize.

Leif Sorgule teaches technology, engineering, construction and manufacturing at Peru High School. Before becoming a teacher 11 years ago, Sorgule earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in technology education and worked previously as a marine mechanic and carpenter. He is also an adjunct professor at Clinton Community College. At Peru High, Sorgule boosts workplace readiness and skills by modeling his classrooms on working businesses: construction students bid on mini residential construction jobs, robotics classes build scale robotic arms for factory use and engineering students design, build and test scissor lifts. His courses integrate cutting-edge technology with hands-on use of tools, from coding CNC machines to metal fabrication, computer-aided design to woodworking.

The 50 finalists—some competing as individuals and some as teacher teams—hail from 23 states and specialize in trades including manufacturing, welding, construction, automotive, agriculture mechanics and technical theater. New York is tied with California for the most prize finalists of any state.

“Trades teachers are truly unsung heroes, and our prize seeks to show everyone how powerful these classes can be,” said Danny Corwin, executive director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. “Skilled trades education has enormous potential to offer students pathways to multiple post-secondary opportunities, and these are the teachers who are providing them with the knowledge, skills and inspiration year after year.”

The 2020 finalists now advance to the second round of competition, where they will be asked to respond to online expert-led video learning modules designed to solicit their insights and creative ideas about teaching practices. The contenders will be asked how ideas from the modules might be used to inspire students to achieve excellence in the skilled trades. Two rounds of judging, each by separate independent panels of reviewers, will narrow the field to 18 winners and, finally, name three of those teachers Grand Prize recipients. All winners will be announced in late October.

The 18 winners will split the $1 million prize. Grand Prize winners will each receive $100,000, with $70,000 going to their public high school skilled trades program and $30,000 to the individual skilled trades teacher or teacher team behind the winning program. The 15 additional winners will each be awarded $50,000, with $35,000 going to their public high school program and $15,000 to the teacher or team. Finalists whose school, district and/or state policy prohibits the receipt of the individual portion of prize earnings were eligible to apply on behalf of their school’s skilled trades program. If they win, their entire share of the prize will be awarded to the school.

By John T. Ryan

Twenty-five residents were present at last night’s Peru Central School Town Hall Community Meeting. The subject was the Board of Education’s (BOE) July 14th decision to retire the “Indian” as Peru’s school mascot. No Board of Education (BOE) members attended. Superintendent Thomas Palmer said Health Department COVID-19 regulations limit attendance to no more than 50 people. He anticipated 50 or more people would try to attend; therefore, he advised the BOE not to participate and that he would respond to questions.

Everyone who spoke was against retiring the “Indian” as the school’s mascot. They were especially incensed that the School Board (BOE) make the change on July 14th without hearing from the taxpayers and alumni. School Superintendent Dr. Thomas Palmer said he advised against making the change without input, but a majority of BOE members disagreed. He said he would bring the concerns expressed to the BOE and that people would be welcome to express their concerns during the public comment part of the next regular BOE meeting.

Source: Whiteface Mountain Upgrades | Whiteface Mountain

The Peru CSD Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, July 23, 2020, at 6:00 PM.  The main focus of the meeting is to discuss the draft reopening plan.  Due to current COVID-19 conditions, the meeting will be held remotely via Google Meet.  The public may view the meeting live at https://youtu.be/KsB8aCZaoYg.  The meeting will also be recorded and will be available on the District’s website at www.perucsd.org.

The full agenda will be available on the District’s website.

Source: Free tire collection for Clinton County residents | Sun Community News ALTONA | Clinton County residents can soon take advantage of a free local tire-collection event.

Source: Saranac Lake looks to “hybrid” reopening schedule this Fall | Sun Community News SLCSD looks to stagger school arrival, departure times, with Wednesday for remote learning.

Source: Peru students react to ‘Indians’ retirement | Sun Community News PERU | Students here had the chance to give their thoughts on the plan to find a new name for the school district’s mascot at a town hall meeting July 21.

Source: Where to Find America’s Best Apple Pies

Source: Racist graffiti found in Cadyville Recreation Park | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Source: Burlington mayor: CityPlace developer intends to abandon project

Source: An essential worker struggles to find child care in Tupper Lake | NCPR News

CCHD Message: Here are today’s Clinton County COVID-19 case count updates.

We continue to receive many questions about travel restrictions. To view NYS guidance for travel and an up-to-date list of restricted states, visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory.

Keep up the good work! 💪 Wear a face covering, practice physical distancing, and wash your hands.