The Peru Gazette

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Source: Man who escaped Vermont prison captured near facility, police say

FOLK MUSIC ICON TO FEATURE NEW ALBUM AT HARBORSIDE

After a successful first month in which each concert presented featured an average of more than 50 carloads of music lovers packing the Harborside Parking Lot, Plattsburgh’s Curbside At Harborside drive-in concert series continues with a full slate of concerts throughout the month of August, beginning with beloved folk singer and songwriter Dan Berggren performing a solo show on Aug. 1.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for Berggren’s August 1 drive-in concert in Plattsburgh, with the concert starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per carload (not per person) and will be available on the evening of the performance at the Harborside Lot entrance near the City of Plattsburgh Marina, behind the D&H Railway Station. (2 Dock Street is the best GPS address to use for finding this lot).

Vehicles will be parked first-come, first-served by the volunteer parking attendants on-site. All attendees must bring with them a face mask to wear whenever they exit their vehicles. All Centers for Disease Control and New York State requirements concerning social distancing will be observed.

For more information, please contact pomerance.benjamin58@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/CurbsideAtHarborside.

For decades, Berggren has remained one of the most celebrated troubadours of the Adirondacks, with a touring career that brought him everywhere from Central Africa to Eastern Europe the British Isles to states from Texas to Vermont — all while showcasing the music of the mountains that his family has called home for generations.

Berggren’s seventieth birthday concert at the storied Caffe Lena, the oldest continuously operating coffee house in the United States, was sold out so quickly that the venue immediately added a second show — which also was sold out almost immediately. For more than 40 years, his concerts have been widely praised by reviewers and audience members alike, and his songs have received significant national attention on public television and radio broadcasts.

Fans of the annual Adirondack Folk Music Festival know Berggren well, for it was Berggren — with significant personal encouragement from his longtime mentor Pete Seeger, who had tried to launch a similar festival in the Adirondacks during the late-1940s and early-1950s — who helped to launch this popular festival approximately three decades ago.

Having just released a new album when COVID-19 hit, this Plattsburgh drive-in concert marks one of the rare opportunities to hear Berggren live and in-person this year in a program that will feature songs from this new CD as well as favorite standards from the singer-songwriter’s extensive original catalog.

Even amid this global pandemic, Berggren has remained extremely active, including writing and recording a new single — Be Safe, Be Well — about his response to COVID-19 that has already received more than 16,000 views online.

The range of Berggren’s repertoire is vast and impressive, from the treasured ode to the Adirondacks Mountain Air to the renewable energy anthem Power From Above to the endearing When Harry Carried The Mail, describing the mail route that Berggren’s grandfather used to travel dating back to 1915 as one of the first rural free mail carriers in the Adirondacks. His music tells the true stories of hard-working folks in these mountains, describing human challenges and human triumphs, tragedy and love, care for the environment and care for each other.

Berggren’s Adirondack roots run deep, beginning with boyhood trips from his Brooklyn home to the farm near Minerva that his great-great-grandfather had started after migrating from Ireland during the potato famine. When Berggren was 12 years old, his family moved to that land year-around, with Berggren ultimately graduating from Minerva High School in a class of 11 students.

After studying at St. Lawrence University and serving in the United States Army, Berggren returned home to the Adirondacks, where he initially worked as a surveyor. In nearby Schroon Lake, he met two folk singers who introduced him to the extensive archive of recordings of Adirondack folk music made by Essex County historian Marjorie Lansing Porter.

Around that same time, Berggren found his grandfather’s old leather mail pouch in the family barn. This discovery led Berggren to travel his father’s old mail route, hoping to find someone who remembered his grandfather and could share some stories about him. In the kitchen of an 89-year-old Minerva resident named Cecil Butler, Berggren found what he was looking for — and developed the inspiration to devote the rest of his musical life to the folk music of the Adirondacks.

In addition to his performing and recording career, Berggren also taught radio and audio production at the State University of New York College at Fredonia, where he received the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and where he currently holds professor emeritus status. He remains an educator through song and storytelling, as observed by the New York State Outdoor Education Association, which honored him with their Art and Literary Award, and by the Adirondack Mountain Club, which honored him with their Education Award.

More Upcoming Curbside At Harborside Performances

On the Saturday after Berggren’s concert, The Revenants to town on August 8, three skillful Bluegrass Gospel Project alumni who have joined forces to present original, time-honored, and contemporary Americana music across the northeast.

Perennial favorites Beartracks take the stage on August 15, offering the bluegrass and country music that has delighted fans of this North Country-based group with international acclaim since their inception in 2004.

Jazz returns to the bandshell on August 22, with the Wickmoore Jazz Trio — brothers Nelson and Eli Moore on drums and bass, and Vihan Wickramasinghe on piano — performing classic and original blues, funk, and smooth jazz tunes.

August 29 highlights the talents of High Peaks Opera, featuring former New York City Opera principal artist George Cordes and highly accomplished pianist Elizabeth Cordes, with an evening of classics from opera, operetta, and Broadway.

September 5 showcases four gifted artists with deep connections to the North Country — husband-and-wife vocalists Bill and Brenda McColgin, and pianists Jennifer Moore and Rose Chancler — for a night of classical works for piano and narrator, as well as many favorite Broadway show tunes.

The “Curbside By Harborside” season will end on September 12, with a performance of traditional music from the time of the Battle of Plattsburgh, curated by folk musician Stan Ransom, who has entertained audiences with his voice and his stylings on hammered dulcimer, mandolin, and multiple other instruments for nearly 60 years. The Too Tall String Band (Rod Driscoll, Bruce Lawson, and Hap Wheeler) will be featured on this program as well, bringing the talents that have kept this group humming for 36 years, and humorous entertainment will be provided by Israel Green’s Tavern Rogues (Mike Trudo, Henry Morlock, and Benjamin Pomerance).

All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., with gates opening for parking at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Benjamin Pomerance at pomerance.benjamin58@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/CurbsideAtHarborside.

Source: ZBA Chair: Durkee lot developer making added site plan changes | Local News | pressrepublican.com

Served 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Take-out only

Coleslaw
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Baked Beans
Homemade Butterscotch Chip Cookies

Source: CNY radio host whose mom died of coronavirus warns: Not wearing a mask is ‘a license to kill’ – syracuse.com

Source: NY has just 3 coronavirus deaths in one day: ‘Don’t get cocky,’ Cuomo says – syracuse.com

Source: As districts release reopening plans, some school officials are uneasy – VTDigger

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the multi-agency task force to combat violations of coronavirus-related regulations at bars and restaurants conducted nearly 1,100 compliance checks between July 21 and July 23, documenting violations at 84 establishments. The task force is led by State Liquor Authority Chairman Vincent Bradley and State Police Lieutenant Colonel Dominick Chiumento. Businesses found in violation of COVID-19 regulations face fines up to $10,000 per violation, while egregious violations can result in the immediate suspension of a bar or restaurant’s liquor license. This week, the SLA has summarily suspended the liquor licenses of ten establishments in New York City and on Long Island – including six in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens that were announced today.

Over the last three days, investigators from the newly-announced task force led by the State Police and SLA conducted 1,080 compliance checks across the state. During that time, the investigators documented 84 violations. Since the start of the pandemic emergency, the SLA has brought 443 charges against licensees statewide and imposed 33 Emergency Orders of Suspension, immediately closing establishments in order to protect public health and safety. A list of licensees charged, and businesses served with summary suspension orders, can be found HERE.    The Plattsburgh establishment is listed as Christopher J. Dumont, 9 Bridge St., Plattsburgh, NY.

“We are very proud of what New Yorkers did to flatten the curve of the virus, but we have to protect our progress because no one wants to do that again,” Governor Cuomo said. “That’s why we’re watching the bar and restaurant violations and the congregations in front of these establishments, as we believe it’s connected to the increased infection rate with young people. We’ve tasked the State Liquor Authority and the State Police to help local governments more aggressively enforce the law and they are doing just that, with dozens of violations found last night alone.”

Source: Meadowbrook announces COVID-positive staff member | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | Meadowbrook Healthcare reported that a fourth employee has tested positive for the virus.

Plattsburgh, July 24, 2020. Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) has confirmed that three individuals who attended a large gathering in Altona, NY have tested positive for COVID-19. The party took place on the evening of Friday, July 17, 2020, on Memory Lane Way in Altona, NY. 

“Anyone who attended this party has potentially been exposed to COVID-19,” stated John Kanoza, Director of Public Health in Clinton County, NY. “We are urging parents to talk to their children to see if they attended this party, as it is reported that many individuals who attended the party were in their late teens to early 20s.” 

Health officials are asking anyone who attended this party to contact the Clinton County Health Department at 518-565-4840. If calling after hours (after 5:00 pm and on weekends), individuals should call 518-565-3270. Anyone who attended this party should self-quarantine at home and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. Those symptoms include fever (100.4◦F), cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and/or difficulty breathing. If you develop symptoms, call your healthcare provider for further guidance. Additional information on self-quarantining may be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html. 

“Residents must remain vigilant and continue to do their part to limit the spread of COVID-19. We have been fortunate to have low numbers of active cases over the past couple of months, but the risk of COVID-19 is not gone,” cautioned Mr. Kanoza. Residents can protect themselves and others by continuing to practice physical distancing (maintaining 6 feet of space between themselves and others), wearing face coverings when out in public, and frequent hand washing. 

CCHD – We continue to receive numerous travel-related questions from residents, including many residents asking if they should travel. CCHD does not recommend that individuals travel at this time. COVID-19 cases and deaths have been reported in all 50 states, and the situation is constantly changing. Because travel increases your chances of getting infected and spreading COVID-19, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick. To make the most of your staycation, visit www.goadirondack.com/staycation.

For an overview of the NYS Travel Advisory, guidance, and an up-to-date list of restricted states, visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory.

If you MUST travel, take the following precautions to protect yourself and others during your trip:
– Clean your hands often. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after touching surfaces frequently touched by others, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before touching your face or eating. If soap and water are not available, bring and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
– Avoid close contact with others. Keep 6 feet of physical distance from others.
– Wear a cloth face-covering in public.
– Cover coughs and sneezes.
– Pick up food at drive-throughs, curbside restaurant service, or stores.

“We like schools and local governments to look at the image they are projecting and how it reflects on them.”

By John T. Ryan 

Peru – A debate, especially on social media, has been ongoing since July 14th when the Peru Central School Board voted to retire the school’s “Indian” mascot/nickname. Most people commenting on media commenters oppose the change, while others believe it was justified and inevitable. People on both sides of the issue have pointed to Native American chiefs who support their opinion. 

Ben White is the Communications Director at the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation (Akwesasne) near Massena. He often receives phone calls on the mascot issue. It’s a frequent subject at school districts across the state. White commented, “We like schools and local governments to look at the image they are projecting and how it reflects on them. If there is any utilization of any indigenous caricatures, we ask that it be in a positive, honorable matter, that it be a true reflection of the indigenous people.” 

White encouraged school districts to reach out to local Native Americans stating, “It’s nice when school districts reach out to us for our thoughts on this matter. Our local school district recently changed its mascot from the Massena Red Raiders, a depiction of a western-style native. It wasn’t a correct representation of the Mohawk people. We’re utilizing this as an educational opportunity to go out into the surrounding school districts to share our culture, our language, our history, and to have a respectful relationship going forward.” 

White is aware that many people take great pride in Indian symbols. He stated, “I think the vast majority of people who attach themselves to native mascots have good intentions and have goodwill toward the indigenous people they are trying to honor.”  Still, he asked, “What other race or ethnicity is used to represent sports franchises or school districts?”  White also pointed out the word “Indian” is not a Native American name. It was Christopher Columbus, who called the indigenous people he encountered in this hemisphere Indians believing he was in India or South Asia. 

Coach Gary Edwards recalls speaking with a St. Regis Mohawk chief in 2001 about Peru’s mascot. The chief said he had no objections and had more important things to worry about. What has changed? Ben White said, “I think our consciousness as indigenous people has heightened over the years. There have been contributing factors such as the Elouise Cobel lawsuit against the U.S. government over the management of billions of dollars of trust funds. It’s the residential school experience that many of our elders went through. More of our youth are going to college, getting professional degrees and becoming more educated.” 

White also mentioned the awareness movements taking place across the country as having an influence. He stated, “Tribal communities are still the last people on the list to get additional resources. Some of that may be related to us being humble, quiet, reserved people. The time for that has passed. We need to speak up and voice our concerns on various issues. We can no longer be overlooked.” 

Source: Second home market booms in popular upstate NY vacation areas

Source: Amid Pandemic, Vermont Homeschool Enrollments Surge | Off Message

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!